How would you dress the characters from "Midsummer Night's Dream"

Question

I have seen many different versions of the play, which one is your favorite?

or, do you have suggestions of what you think would be a good idea...?

so, here's what I have seen...

a. A classic version, sort of Elizabethan

b. A post-modern version

c. A version set in a rose garden, People in complete renaissance regalia

d. "A Midsummer's Unitard" two hours of confusion and lycra

(the actors were all wearing unitards)

e. An underwater version, everything dressed up in bathing suits

f. My personal favorite, one that denotes the sexiness of the entire production, "The Power of Dance", male fairies dressed in mesh tops and tights, and tutus, a Male Puck wearing 6" pumps, the lovers practically stripping on-stage, and a wv bus for the mechanicals!

best play ever, courtisy of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Answer 1

Well the play is set in Greece - so you could dress...um...Greek!

Like Ancient Greeks - with the long, flowing robes - but that's how I can see it working..

Answer 2

My favorite is the Max Rheinhart film starring Mickey Rooney as Puck. It does not have any of the arsy junk you describe and provides a beautiful fantasy!

Answer 3

I did this at school in 2007 and I was Snug. We set the play as if it were now, even though the language and locations were kept the same.

The Mechanicals were like normal men (btw i go to an all girls' school), eg, builders, mechanics, carpenters and apprentices.

The fairies were kind of punkish, with completely back-combed hair and mad costumes.

Do you get the idea? I think it's a good way of doing the play, and people commented on it saying that they hadn't seen anything like that before :)