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artcarlady
Reviews
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1982)
Favorite version of a MSND veteran
As a drama teacher I've directed MSND 3 times and have seen a number live productions, including one at the Stratford Shapkespeare festival. This is without a doubt the one I love most. I like Hurt's growling, tumbling Oberon and his very physical relationship with Puck. Christine Baranski is, as noted many times by the other reviewers, utterly hilarious. But my favorite moment comes at the end, when Bottom is describing his dreamy interlude with Titania and he sees a fleeting vision of her as she fades away into the night. For a few seconds we see the loneliness and longing beneath his blustery persona. I'd never had much fondness for the character until then, but that tiny spark of pathos made him much more appealing. The day I can find it - video or DVD - I'll snap it up.