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Massimo Sommacampagna's avatar

Loved reading the play and watched it in person last year! Any recommendations on watching it on the TV? BBC? Globe Production? etc.?

Henry Oliver's avatar

Actually I have no recommendations for this one!

Patrick's avatar

I really liked reading it, but didn't find any good productions to watch.

I checked out the BBC production (1981: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082746/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk), and I do not recommend it, it wasn't very good.

I I started a Globe production (I've lost the link, sorry), but it seemed pretty dour for some reason, as if they forgot it was a comedy.

I did listen to the Arkangel Shakespeare audio production, and while I really like the series in general, this one wasn't great. Oberon and Titania were cast with somewhat exaggerated-sounding Jamaican accents for some reason, and their voices were treated with an obnoxious reverb.

I remember enjoying the 1999 film directed by Michael Hoffman (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0140379/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk), but it's been a very long time, and if I recall correctly the film took some liberties with the text. (Some might also find Shakespeare with American accents not to their liking, but it doesn't bother me).

Henry Oliver's avatar

I tried the globe 2013 production and, with the exception of Hermia, thought the acting was poor all round, and that many lines were misspoken. Not an easy play!

Kieran Garland's avatar

love the play. very interested in the 'first tipping point for Shakespeare' and especially the Festive Comedy/Lord of Misrule stuff

Kieran Garland's avatar

thought the ~2013 Midsummer Globe production was enormous fun and briskly done. available for rent I think