Flying Above the Forest: Dominican University Presents ‘A Midsummer Night’s Cirque’
In Krista Hansen’s adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, much of the other worldly magic of the forest happens above the stage.
As its title suggests, Dominican University’s fall production of A Midsummer Night’s Cirque — opening to audiences Nov. 18 — adds the spectacle of circus performance to a new interpretation of the classic Shakespeare comedy about young lovers, fairies and magical spells. Suspended in air, characters set the mythical scene through dance and aerial acrobatics.
It’s a concept Hansen, the play’s artistic director, felt inspired to try after attending an aerial performance earlier this year.
“I wanted to do a Shakespeare show,” she explained. “I thought, ‘aerials would be interesting to incorporate. But what play would work well?’”
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with its supernatural elements, seemed an obvious choice for the theater professor, who has previously adapted Shakespeare’s Othello, As You Like It, Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet for the Dominican stage.
A Midsummer Night’s Cirque, which includes original dialogue Hansen wrote herself, is a “very loose interpretation” of the source material, she notes, though audiences will recognize characters and story elements of the original play.
“Making sure I was creating dialogue that didn’t sound completely different from Shakespeare’s dialogue was the goal,” Hansen said of her writing. “I jokingly refer to it as ‘fake-speare.’ I wanted to honor the sound of the text and I think we did that. I’m proud of the newly created text and how it flows with the original.”
The cast is a mix of Dominican students and guest actors. Professional aerialists will perform all the aerial routines, though some students will be seen in less intensive routines using silks.
The aerial aspect is the “most unique element of the show,” notes Stage Manager Maryah Paige.
“Aerial work isn’t something people get to see often,” Page said. “A lot of people know about it, but it’s not widely experienced.”
“The dance and the aerialists really make Shakespeare accessible to all audiences,” said Katy Agans, a Dominican senior who plays Hermia. “It’s a very good interpretation of his work for modern audiences. The circus element brings in the spectacle, so there’s more to look at, and Krista, our director, has shaped the script in a way that you can still understand everything that is being said and the characters are as recognizable as ones you’d see on TV today.”
The production also features actors using the aisles of the auditorium as extensions of the stage.
“This is definitely something people should come and see,” Page said.
Performances of A Midsummer Night’s Cirque will take place Friday, Nov. 18 and Saturday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 20 at 3 p.m. in the Lund Auditorium at Dominican University, 7900 W. Division St. in River Forest.
Masks are required for all audience members.
Tickets are $18 for the public and are free for Dominican students with a valid ID.
To purchase tickets, visit dom.universitytickets.com or contact the Box Office at 708-488-5000.
