Despite a persistent snowstorm Friday, it was a pleasant midsummer night inside Capitol Theatre as BalletMet Columbus premiered “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
The stage transported audience members from the city to Shakespeare’s fairy kingdom. One of the most traditional and entertaining ballets, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is perfect for ballet lovers, Shakespeare fanatics and even those setting eyes on the ballet stage for the first time.
The BalletMet presentation of the classic, choreographed by David Nixon, proves that good stories never lose their charm, especially when they are combined with dancing and glittery costumes.
Probably the most entertaining character is Puck, the mischievous servant of the fairy king Oberon. Oberon orders Puck to retrieve a flower which has magical juice that functions as a love potion when dropped into a person’s eyes.
Puck uses the flower to carry out Oberon’s wishes, but not without making some hilarious errors along the way. Chaos ensues as Titiana, the fairy queen, falls in love with a man with the head of a donkey and Lysander and Demetrius both mistakenly love Helena, fighting each other in their pursuits.
Puck enjoys his role as the instigator of these events, as does the audience. BalletMet dancer Jon Drake, who plays the role of Puck, dances sprightly and impressively. His transformation into his character is flawless and sure to make audience members chuckle.
Another standout dancer is Adrienne Benz who plays Titiana. The fairy queen has her fair share of dance spotlight moments, leading her doting fairies through Nixon’s beautiful choreography. Her impressive technical training is obvious in her every move, and her beautiful extension adds to the grace which she brings to her dancing.
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” remains a refreshing ballet despite its many interpretations over the years. BalletMet’s rendition will be performed at Capitol Theatre until Feb. 14.
