REP Returns to Shakespeare with a Fresh Take on A Midsummer Night’s Dream
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| Shakespeare doesn’t have to feel intimidating -- and Repertory Philippines’ A Midsummer Night’s Dream is proof |
I’ll admit, bringing a 12-year-old to his first Shakespearean play felt like a bit of a gamble. Shakespeare, after all, comes with a reputation for elaborate language, complicated relationships, and stories that can feel a little intimidating if you’re encountering them for the first time.
But A Midsummer Night’s Dream turned out to be such a fun introduction.
We watched the opening night on September 12 at the historic Saint Cecilia’s Hall inside St. Scholastica’s College, and by the time the curtain came down, my son had thoroughly enjoyed himself. It was not only his first Shakespearean play -- it was also his first Repertory Philippines production outside RTYA (REP Theater for Young Audiences).
Domingo explains:
The production doesn't lose the essence of Shakespeare's story, but the performances give the characters a playful, contemporary energy that makes their situations easy to connect with. There’s romance, jealousy, confusion, magic, and plenty of comedy -- all unfolding in a way that never felt like we were simply watching a “classic” being performed for the sake of being a classic.
Instead, it felt alive.
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| REP A Midsummer Night's Dream - September 12-27 |
But A Midsummer Night’s Dream turned out to be such a fun introduction.
We watched the opening night on September 12 at the historic Saint Cecilia’s Hall inside St. Scholastica’s College, and by the time the curtain came down, my son had thoroughly enjoyed himself. It was not only his first Shakespearean play -- it was also his first Repertory Philippines production outside RTYA (REP Theater for Young Audiences).
A Shakespeare Classic Gets a Fresh, Relatable Energy
For its 89th Season, Repertory Philippines brings back its Shakespearean tradition with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, ahead of the company’s 90th season. The production is directed by REP Artistic Director Jeremy Domingo, who approached the play as a faithful adaptation centered on Shakespeare’s original text and themes.Domingo explains:
We want to celebrate the power of Shakespeare’s dialogues, which of course defined modern theater as we know it today. It’s a faithful adaptation in a sense that my goal as a director is to guide these talented actors in reading, interpreting, and acting Shakespeare text to bring out the wit, the double entendres, and the sarcasm that made the Bard a pillar of English language and the art of theater-making, even four hundred years after he graced this earth.
The production doesn't lose the essence of Shakespeare's story, but the performances give the characters a playful, contemporary energy that makes their situations easy to connect with. There’s romance, jealousy, confusion, magic, and plenty of comedy -- all unfolding in a way that never felt like we were simply watching a “classic” being performed for the sake of being a classic.
Instead, it felt alive.
Four Lovers and a Whole Lot of Confusion
At the heart of the story are four young Athenian lovers whose relationships become increasingly tangled as they find themselves caught in the magical chaos of the forest.And this was one of my favorite parts of the production.
The dynamics among the four lovers were so much fun to watch. Their chemistry, misunderstandings, shifting affections, and constant confusion created some of the show's most entertaining moments.
The cast features Sevee Eslabra as Hermia, Luis Marcelo as Lysander, GK Diola as Demetrius, and Dani Roque and Isabelle Prado alternating as Helena.
Watching them bounce off one another made the complicated love triangle -- or rather, love quadrangle -- much easier to follow, while also giving the scenes plenty of comedic energy.
But the lovers aren't the only ones caught up in the story's complications. Randy Villarama plays Oberon/Theseus, the fairy king and Duke of Athens, while Lesley Leveriza Lina and Giannina Ocampo-Van Hoven alternate as Titania/Hippolyta, the fairy queen and Queen of the Amazons. Joel Parcon plays Egeus, Hermia's father.
Their characters help anchor the larger world of the story, bringing together the royal court, the fairy realm, and the young lovers whose relationships become increasingly tangled.
Enter Nick Bottom, Peter Quince, and the Mechanicals
And then there are the Mechanicals.If the four lovers bring romantic chaos to the story, Nick Bottom, Peter Quince, and the rest of their group bring an entirely different kind of comedy.
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| The Mechanicals |
Their attempt to put on a play within the play is one of those parts of A Midsummer Night’s Dream that can easily steal the show, and this production clearly has fun with it.
Tristan Bite plays Nick Bottom, with Alexa P. Sandiego as Peter Quince, alongside Rico del Rosario as Francis Flute, Ysh Bautista as Robin Starveling, Robert Bradly Hao as Tom Snout, and Bella Alejandro as Snug.
Their exaggerated performances and wonderfully earnest commitment to their little production add another layer of comedy to an already chaotic story.
It’s the kind of comedy that doesn’t need to be explained -- you just watch them try to make their play work and enjoy the ridiculousness of it all.
Puck: Eerie, Unpredictable, and Delightfully Unsettling
But if I had to pick one standout, it would have to be Puck, played by Joey Cosio-Mercado..jpg) |
| Puck played by Joey Cosio-Mercado |
Puck brought something different to the production. His performance was eerie and unpredictable, and there was always a sense that you weren't quite sure what he might do next.
That quality worked particularly well against the lighter, more comedic moments of the play. In the middle of all the romance, confusion, and laughter, Puck brought an unexpected flavor -- one that made the magical world feel just a little more mischievous and unsettling.
A Shakespearean Play for First-Timers?
Having my son with me made the experience even more interesting because I got to see the show through the eyes of someone encountering Shakespeare on stage for the first time.And the fact that he enjoyed it so much says a lot about how approachable this production feels.
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| Bringing my son to his first Shakespearean play |
You don't need to walk into the theater already knowing every character or understanding Shakespearean language inside and out. The performances, physical comedy, character dynamics, and sheer amount of chaos help carry the story along.
And maybe that's what makes A Midsummer Night’s Dream such a great introduction to Shakespeare: beneath all the old language and theatrical tradition, it's ultimately a story about people being ridiculous because of love, making questionable decisions, getting themselves into complicated situations -- and somehow finding their way through it.
Very human. Very funny. And still very Shakespeare.
Catch It Before the Magic Disappears
Repertory Philippines' A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a limited three-weekend run from September 12 to September 27, 2026, at Saint Cecilia’s Hall, St. Scholastica’s College in Manila.REP describes the production as part of its return to Shakespearean theater, with the company noting that its last Shakespearean production was Hamlet in 2008.
And with only 12 shows, this really is one of those productions where you don't want to wait until the last minute.
If you've been wanting to introduce someone to Shakespeare -- or if you simply want an evening filled with romance, mischief, comedy, magic, and a healthy amount of chaos -- A Midsummer Night’s Dream is worth adding to your theater plans.
Tickets are available through TicketWorld, Ticket2Me, and the REP Box Office.
