This year's official "Shakespeare play I'm going to end up seeing so often I'll be
quoting it in my sleep" is
clearly A Midsummer Night's Dream, which is
packing in the productions over the next couple of months - I've got at least three
planned between now and July, and I'm not even seeing all the versions London has to
offer. First up is Erica Whyman's touring one for the RSC, subtitled
A Play for
the Nation for reasons that will become apparent. As a royal wedding approaches
in ancient Athens, another potential marriage is in jeopardy: Hermia's (Mercy
Ojelade) father won't approve of her marrying her beloved Lysander (Jack Holden)
because he sees Demetrius (Chris Nayak) as a more suitable match. The two lovers
escape to the forest, but Helena (Laura Riseborough,) in love with Demetrius,
inexplicably thinks betraying them to him will help her own chances of getting him
back.
