AUGUSTA — End your summer with a delightful one-of-a-kind theater experience at beautiful Viles Arboretum in Augusta. “A Midsummer Nights’ Dream”, Shakespeare’s beloved comedy of magic, romance and fun comes to life on the trails of Viles Arboretum from Aug. 21 through Aug. 30.
The production, which is being produced by Viles Arboretum featuring a group of professional actors from the Portland area. A unique feature of the production will be the fact that the actors and audience will travel along the trail to experience the performance.
“A Midsummer Nights’ Dream” on the trails at Viles Arboretum begins in the court of ‘Athens’ (inside the education barn), where Egeus drags his daughter Hermia. Egeus demands that the Duke force Hermia to marry Demetrius, the man that Egeus has selected to be her husband.
Hermia refuses. She loves Lysander. It’s her best friend Helena who loves Demetrius. Rather than face the Duke’s ruling, the four lovers escape to the ‘woods’ (the trails at Viles Arboretum). There, they encounter the King and Queen of the fairies, Oberon and Titania, the mischievous Puck, and other sprites
Along the way, we also meet the rough-hewn workers who are rehearsing their own production of ‘Pyramus and Thisbe’ to be performed for the upcoming marriage of Duke Theseus and Hippolyta, the Queen of the Amazons.
The play returns to Athens (the education barn) for the famous ‘play within a play’ and a celebration with the cast and audience.
This 80-minute production of “A Midsummer Nights’ Dream” is a zany take on a tale of love, confusion, magic dust from flowers, and lots of laughs in a magnificent setting. Tickets are limited to 50 per performance and seating is provided at every location along the trail (or feel free to bring your own chair).
Six performances only! On Friday and Saturday, Aug. 21, 22, 28 and 29 at 6 p.m., and Sunday Aug. 23 and 30 at 4 p.m.
Tickets are $20 each, $15 for members of Viles Arboretum. If it rains, the show will be performed inside.
“A Midsummer Nights’ Dream” is produced by Viles Arboretum with generous support from Mad Horse Theatre Company, Momentum Conservation, and the Elsie and William Viles Foundation.
For tickets, visit www.vilesarboretum.org or https://events.humanitix.com/midsummer-on-the-trails.