A Noise Within, East Pasadena’s acclaimed theater company, is bringing to life Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in a fast-paced and contemporary production that promises to be a feast for the senses.
The play follows two pairs of mixed-up lovers and a troupe of amateur players as they stumble into a forest of feuding fairies, where reality is upended and chaos and mischief abound. In this tumultuous, dreamlike world, anything can and does happen.
With their quintessential mastery, A Noise Within has breathed new life into this famously enchanting comedy. The production runs through Nov. 12 and is directed by Julia Rodriguez-Elliott and Geoff Elliot.
One actor in particular is thrilled to be a part of it. Kasey Mahaffy, a resident actor at A Noise Within, is taking on the role of Puck and is excited about the unique twist his character brings to the production.
“My character creates all the entanglements so that’s what I get to do,” Mahaffy said. “There are different lovers in the play, but my character, Puck, really enjoys being a disruptor and causing chaos. And so it’s through my actions in the play that all of the lovers get crossed and mixed up and lose their minds.”
Artistic Director Julia Rodriguez-Elliott said she’s also especially excited about how Puck’s character, played by Kasey Mahaffy, is an essential element in the production.
Kasey Mahaffy as “Puck” in A Noise Within’s current production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. [Daniel Reichert]
Mahaffy also praised A Noise Within for the theatre’s ability to bring classical plays to life with a modern twist that resonates with today’s audience.
“‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is over 400 years old and we’re bringing a new modern contemporary relevance to it by drawing themes that are interesting to today’s audience,” Mahaffy said. “And the directors, Julia and Geoff (Elliott) do an incredible job of using modern technology. We have an incredible sound system and music scored by Robert Oriol. We have people doing trampoline work, we have people coming down from the ceiling on bungee cords, we’ve got all kinds of very, very exciting elements that really bring this show to life.”
The enchanted woods of Athens play a central role in the story. Instead of a literal representation of a forest, the scenic designer has created abstract structures that can shape and morph into different spaces with the help of lighting and fabric. This artistic approach adds a unique visual element to the production.
“The most incredible thing about Frederica (Nascimento), who is our scenic designer, is that she’s an incredible scenic designer,” Mahaffy said. “So we don’t have a forest, like trees coming in and leaves. We have different structures – tall, impressive structures that can shape and morph and become different spaces when we change scenes with lighting and different fabric. She and Julia got together and decided what the forest would look like and how abstract it could be basically, and tell the story the best way possible.
Being a part of A Noise Within has greatly shaped Mahaffy’s approach to acting and his understanding of classical works like Shakespeare’s plays. As a resident artist, Mahaffy has had the opportunity to tackle challenging scripts and hone his skills in breaking down text. He credits his time at A Noise Within for making him a sharper actor and improving his ability to handle dense dialogue.
Mahaffy also noted that “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is one of the most accessible Shakespeare plays, making it enjoyable for all types of audiences. The play is filled with humor and excitement, and the fast-paced nature of the production keeps viewers engaged from start to finish.
To further enhance the audience’s understanding and appreciation of the play, A Noise Within is hosting The INsiders, a discussion group, which will meet on Nov. 5, allowing attendees to delve into the magic of the play.
Post-show conversations with the actors will also take place after select performances, providing an opportunity to gain insights from the performers themselves.
For more information and tickets, visit www.anoisewithin.org/play/a-midsummer-nights-dream-2023/.
A Noise Within is located at 3352 E. Foothill Blvd. in East Pasadena. Call (626) 356-3100.
