A Midsummer Night’s Dream *** (1985, Lindsay Kemp, Manuela Vargas, Jack Birkett, François Testory, David Meyer, Neil Caplan, Michael Matou, David Haughton) – Classic Movie Review 7838

Lindsay Kemp’s Company brings its London stage production of the William Shakespeare play to the screen with colourful success in director Celestino Coronada’s 1985 Spanish-UK TV movie A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

As Puck (Lindsay Kemp) dreams, Hippolyta (Manuela Vargas) is abducted by Duke Theseus (Neil Caplan). As his wedding feast is prepared at his castle, they watch the pairs of lovers playing and dancing and the antics of the ‘mechanicals’. Jack Birkett (aka The Incredible Orlando) makes an outstandingly incongruous figure as Titania; David Meyer cuts a dashing figure as Lysander.

The main cast are Lindsay Kemp, François Testory (Changeling and Snout), David Meyer, Manuela Vargas, Jack Birkett, Neil Caplan, Michael Matou (Oberon), David Haughton [David Brandon] (Demetrius), Annie Huckle (Hermia), Cheryl Heazlewood (Helena), Christian Michaelson (Juliet / Flute), Javier Sanz (Starveling / Moon) and Attilo Lopez (Romeo / Bottom).

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is directed by Celestino Coronada, runs 80 minutes, is made by Cabochon and Televisión Española, is written by Celestino Coronada, based on the stage production by David Haughton [David Brandon] and Lindsay Kemp, based on the play by William Shakespeare, is shot by Peter Middleton, is produced by Celestino Coronado, David Meyer and Miguel Ángel Pérez Campos, is scored by Carlos Miranda, and is designed by Lindsay Kemp, with art direction by Carlos Dorremochea.

It is followed by A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1999), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2014) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2017).

Lindsay Kemp (1938–2018).

RIP gay icon Lindsay Kemp, who died on 25 August 2018, aged 80. He is known for his work on The Wicker Man (1973), Velvet Goldmine (1998) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1985).

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7838

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