A Midsummer Night's Dream (Shakespeare in Production) (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Trevor R. Griffiths (Editor) "The tiring house facade in an Elizabethan public playhouse would have provided a background ornate, formal and symmetrical enough to suggest a ducal palace to..." (more)
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"...the variora of performative choices recorded in his lucid annotation provide a useful resource for teachers and students of the play. Highly recommended for all academic collections." Choice

Product Description

This volume describes the theatrical fortunes of A Midsummer Night's Dream on the British stage, from the 1590s to the 1990s. A substantial introduction traces the rise of the play from theatrical neglect in the eighteenth century through the spectacular productions of the nineteenth century to its current high status. The authoritative Cambridge text of the play is accompanied by detailed notes on actors' interpretations, settings, textual alterations, and the conceptions of individual directors from David Garrick to Robert Lepage. It will be invaluable to students of Shakespeare in performance.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 250 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (September 13, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521445604
• ISBN-13: 978-0521445603
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,523,691 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A very accessible edition of this beloved play, September 18, 2009

By	Georgia Burns (Atlanta GA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Cambridge School Shakespeare) (Paperback)

I bought this book on the recommendation of a friend in England because it contained photos of a favorite Shakespearean actor, Toby Stephens. But it proved very useful to me far beyond that. I had tickets for a performance of this particular play and was taking my adult son who had never been to a Shakespeare play but wanted to please me on my birthday. We spent the dinner hour prior to the play reading the clear synopses at the top of each page which helped enormously toward the enjoyment of the night for him. I have also read through the entire book and besides being very pleased with the beautiful photographs of several versions (some in color) enjoyed imagining the outcome of the many workshop exercises for actors. This added an unexpected dimension of pleasure and a better appreciation for what it means when "the play's the thing."

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Edition of A Midsummer Night's Dream, September 8, 2008

By	Ingrid "ingrid_in_nc" (NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Cambridge School Shakespeare) (Paperback)

I just ordered this edition of the play and have been utterly thrilled. I wish that we had used a version like this in my college Shakespeare classes. I am preparing to teach a class (for ages 10 and up) on "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and a friend recommended this lovely edition as a great version for children. I didn't realize that it could also be a great version for adults!

For many of the students in my class, this will be their first Shakespeare play *in the original language* and *unabridged*. This version makes the entire play so much more accessible. Each page has Shakespeare's text on the right side and an explanation on the left (a quick summary at the top, plus explanations of unusual phrases/words below that). In addition, many pages include photos of different versions of that very scene.

Plus, the book has several color photos of various productions and includes teaching ideas. The book is so good that I already gave my copy away and have to order more for the class, so I can't refer to it right now to add additional details for the review! This book was a lovely surprise and well worth the money.

I own The Riverside Shakespeare, so I didn't think I needed another edition of any of Shakespeare's plays. This book proved me wrong. Even though I am an adult and have already read most of the bard's plays, I still found this version educational and entertaining.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for lunatics,lovers and poets!, August 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Shakespeare in Production) (Paperback)

If you love this play and are thrillled by the stage history and staging minutiae, the this book will send you reeling! The historical reasearch is encyclopediac and captivating. Your rude sea will grow civil with its song.