Reviewed by ELOISE WALTON
PORTADA theatre group wowed the audience at Faro’s Lethes theatre on Friday night for the opening performance of Shakespeare’s classic comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
This play, which was written at the end of the 16th century and has been performed and studied across the world, was chosen by A Portada theatre group director Priscilla Morgan.
“I have loved this play since I performed the character of Hermia in 1954. It’s such a wonderful work and I just decided we had to do it,” said Priscilla.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, set in Athens and the surrounding forests, features three interlocking plots and tells the story of four young Athenian lovers, their interactions with the nobility, Theseus and Hippolyta and the fairies who live in the moonlit forest.
At the same time, a group of local artisans also go into the forest to practise a play to be performed for the nobility at their wedding celebrations.
After six months of hard work and dedicated rehearsals, the group were finally ready to perform their most ambitious production to date, and they did not disappoint.
Every actor, from the newest to the most experienced, performed with great spirit and gusto, each reciting word perfectly all of their complex lines.
Hilarious
As all great comedies should, this performance caused the audience to laugh out loud on several occasions, especially with the gifted and hilarious performance of Mathieu Barber, who interpreted the role of a local artisan chosen to act as the tragic lover Thisbe at the Athenian lovers’ wedding.
Fairies, lovers, nobility and local artisans all wore fantastic and original outfits designed and made by the multitalented Lesley Sweeney, who also created the magical stage, with help from other members of the theatre group.
For those who have not yet seen this classic play, or would love to see it again, A Portada will be repeating their wonderful performance at Lagoa’s municipal auditorium on December 5 and 6 from 8.30pm and on December 7 from 5pm.
Tickets cost 12 euros for adults and seven euros for children.
For more information and to book, please telephone 911 058 191 or email [email protected] are also available at the venue one hour before the show.
