The cast are a mix of theatre veterans and young dramatic gunslingers, ready to break some legs. Supplied
The Phnom Penh Players are returning to the scene of December’s much-loved A View from the Bridge production with a not-so-modern classic: An abridged take on William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Fans of the bard – or anyone longing for an escape from pub quizzes and karaoke – are in for a treat. The producers are promising a night of love, laughter, mischief and magic!
Directed by Nicole Rudden, the much-loved Blue Chilli will resonate for the first time with the sights and sounds of star-crossed lovers, mischievous fairies and bumbling actors, from Thursday to Saturday only.
With theatre insiders describing a fresh and imaginative twist, this will be one you won’t want to miss.
“Audience members, be they 18 or 80, will find themselves captivated in the magical forests of Athens, where nothing is quite what it seems and love always finds a way…albeit with a detour or two,” whispered the producers.
“With A Midsummer Night’s Dream, sometimes people feel the need to recontextualise or modernise it,” says Rudden,” but I believe when you just strip it back the wonderful words of Shakespeare come alive-no gimmicks, no fancy set, just amazing performers and a great production team.”
Proceeds from the play support LICADHO, a local human rights non-governmental organisation which works to support vulnerable groups and promote and protect human rights in Cambodia. Audience members are encouraged to bring donations of disposable pads and diapers for LICADHO'S work with women and their young children in prison. Please note, as the women in prison cannot clean reusable products, only disposable products will be accepted on the night.
With tickets available through the Phnom Penh Players Facebook page for just 50,000 riel, you aren’t gonna want to be the one at the water cooler with nothing to say about the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta come Monday. Message the players now.
Curtains will open on the in-the-round performance at 7.30pm sharp, from Thursday June 12 through Saturday June 14.
“The course of true love never did run smooth”, the bard once put it. With a talented cast and visionary backstage crew, we’re betting Phnom Penh is ready to fall in love with ol’ Will all over again, and that the run will be a smooth one. See you there.
