Pioneer Players Presents Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' Featuring APT's Tim Gittings

University of Wisconsin - Platteville

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Department of Performing and Visual Arts-Theatre and Pioneer Players will present "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare. The classic comedy will feature American Players Theatre Core Company member Tim Gittings as Nick Bottom.

Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19-22 and 2 p.m. Nov. 23. A special matinee will be held at 11 a.m. Nov. 19. All performances will take place in the Center for the Arts-Theatre on the UW-Platteville campus.

One of Shakespeare's most beloved comedies, the play follows Hermia and Lysander as they flee into the forest to avoid Hermia's arranged marriage to Demetrius. Their plan is revealed by Hermia's friend Helena, who happens to be in love with Demetrius, prompting him to pursue them. Meanwhile, a group of amateur actors led by Nick Bottom rehearses a play in the same forest in honor of the Duke's upcoming wedding. In the fairy world, King Oberon and Queen Titania are fighting, leading Oberon to enlist Puck, also known as Robin Goodfellow, to cause some magical mischief for the queen and the mortals.

"Our version of 'Midsummer' sets up the contrast between the Athenian world, which is a patriarchal society of exclusion and oppression, and the fairy world, which is a place of inclusion and free expression," said Ann Dillon Farrelly, the play's director. "The stakes of this play are very high-for Hermia in particular. While it is a comedy, in true Shakespeare fashion there are dangerous elements that exist as well. We wanted to bring this play into a modern context and not forget about those stakes."

Gittings, who has been a core company member at APT in Spring Green for 18 years, will be joined by 22 UW-Platteville students to bring the story to life.

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