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Product Description
A BBC television adaptation of Shakespeare's comedy about two lovers in a wood who are helped by fairies to solve their problems. Helen Mirren plays the mischievous Titania.
Synopsis
First shown in 1981, this much-loved, magical play stars Helen Mirren as Titania with Robert Lindsay as Lysander, Brian Glover as Bottom, Geoffrey Palmer as Quince, Phil Daniels as Puck and Nigel Davenport as Theseus.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By Harriet Vane
Format:DVD
I might be a bit biased here as it was this BBC-production that, when shown on German television about twenty years ago, brought me to be a Shakespeare devotee, but I still think that it is absolutely the best adaption of the Dream so far- Helen Mirren and Peter Mc Enery are great as Titania and Oberon and as for Robert Lindsay, he was a marvellous Lysander, way out of his depth when lost in the woods. It may not have the Tuscan views of the big Hollywood version with Rupert Everett, but for sheer histrionic brilliance, I`d watch it over and over again!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Oliver Twist
Format:DVD
I hope that everybody associated with this production is proud of it, and of their part in it. I honestly think that given the constraints of budget and time (not to mention the large scope of the play itself), it is a triumph.
Producer Jonathan Miller and director Elijah Moshinsk deserve great credit for a piece which looks more sumptious than Miller's "King Lear" (as it needs to) but which is every bit as intelligently directed. In terms of lighting, sets and costumes, much has been taken from seventeenth century painting and masques. The night-time forest is a delight, as are the very funny scenes between the enchanted and misled lovers. The production boasts a uniformly strong cast which includes Helen Mirren (Titania), Robert Lindsay (Lysander), Nicky Henson (Demetrius), Phil Daniels (Puck), Peter McKenery (Oberon), Nigel Davenport (Theseus), Brian Glover (Bottom), Geoffrey Palmer, Don Estelle, Pippa Guard, etc.
In short, this is a first-rate production of what has to be one of Shakespeare's greatest and most magisterial of plays.
Beyond the "Subtitles" and "Scene Selection" options, the DVD has no extras.
Producer Jonathan Miller and director Elijah Moshinsk deserve great credit for a piece which looks more sumptious than Miller's "King Lear" (as it needs to) but which is every bit as intelligently directed. In terms of lighting, sets and costumes, much has been taken from seventeenth century painting and masques. The night-time forest is a delight, as are the very funny scenes between the enchanted and misled lovers. The production boasts a uniformly strong cast which includes Helen Mirren (Titania), Robert Lindsay (Lysander), Nicky Henson (Demetrius), Phil Daniels (Puck), Peter McKenery (Oberon), Nigel Davenport (Theseus), Brian Glover (Bottom), Geoffrey Palmer, Don Estelle, Pippa Guard, etc.
In short, this is a first-rate production of what has to be one of Shakespeare's greatest and most magisterial of plays.
Beyond the "Subtitles" and "Scene Selection" options, the DVD has no extras.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Ruth O'D
Format:DVD
This was not at all what I expected from Midsummer Night's Dream. Shakespeare's tale of fairies meddling in the lives of mortals is usually light and frothy, but this version had a dark, sinister edge to it. Oberon, King of the fairy-folk, reminded me more of Heathcliff than anyone - primaeval and dangerous, not at all the kind of character you would want to meet in the woods on a dark night. Puck was unpleasant, with a hint of Gollum about him and Helen Mirren's Fairy Queen, though beautiful, was stately and aloof. I wouldn't imagine she spends much time nursing sick puppies or cooing over babies. The lesser fairies were like grubby orphans, not cute or pretty, but very real and believable as forest-dwellers from a mythical world.
The mortals were presented more conventionally, although it was funny watching Robert Lindsay (Ben from 'My Family') with horrible long hair playing Lysander. 'Bottom' and his amateur acting troupe were played very naturally and were not too blatantly comical or slapstick. The overall look and feel was very realistic, rugged even, and not at all ethereal or dream-like. I liked the style of this production; it gave the play depth and made it more interesting
I suspect that there have been substantial cuts in other versions I've seen, because this one seemed to have an awful lot of Shakespearean dialogue and speeches. I didn't mind, but if you don't really want a heavy dose of Shakespeare you could start with a more modern, lighter version such as William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream [DVD] [1999] and work your way up.
The mortals were presented more conventionally, although it was funny watching Robert Lindsay (Ben from 'My Family') with horrible long hair playing Lysander. 'Bottom' and his amateur acting troupe were played very naturally and were not too blatantly comical or slapstick. The overall look and feel was very realistic, rugged even, and not at all ethereal or dream-like. I liked the style of this production; it gave the play depth and made it more interesting
I suspect that there have been substantial cuts in other versions I've seen, because this one seemed to have an awful lot of Shakespearean dialogue and speeches. I didn't mind, but if you don't really want a heavy dose of Shakespeare you could start with a more modern, lighter version such as William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream [DVD] [1999] and work your way up.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A dream version of the "Dream"
I have seen many productions of "The Dream" in the theatre and cinema but, without doubt, this is the best; although it does not have the excitement and dangers of live... Read more
Published 21 months ago by RR Waller
1.0 out of 5 stars
Oh Dear
BBC shakespeare can be bad - this is DIRE. If your child is studying this play at school look elsewhere - this will put them off shakespeare for life!! Read more
Published on 27 May 2010 by Mr. S. Armstrong
2.0 out of 5 stars
Helen Mirren
An interesting but now dated production, great for fans of Helen Mirren et al, but not the best production I have seen
Published on 4 Jan 2010 by Mr. John Hughes
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