Date: 7th August 2026
Time: 12:30 – 14:00
Venue: Bijou at Assembly @ St Andrew Square
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5) Reviewed By: Bronfman and Bunch
The CMU Center for New Work Present: Midsummer! By William Shakespeare in a
Modern Verse Translation by Jeff Whitty and Directed by Kim Wilde
Midsummer! What a delightful, exciting, 90 minute reminiscence of everything to love about a
heart-throbbing summer. This reworking has so many textures: bold, bellowing beats, driving
rhythms,and ambient sounds of violent thunderstorms, followed by lush blossoms in breezy
wafting belcanto voices. Nine actors in this stellar cast surround our senses, allowing us to
reminisce and share in their transformation. This polished ensemble is radiant in presenting all
the dynamic social and cosmic universe levels of Shakespeare’s beloved classic comedy, A
Midsummer Night’s Dream. So surprising is that this was the group’s first performance at
Edinburgh Fringe. Each member of the cast plays multiple parts as the story unfolds as a
polished professional theater company performing a well rehearsed and familiar work.
Gracefully executed by each actor as they fulfilled the possibilities with ecstatic energetic artistry
showing their multiple talents of singing, acting, dance and comedy. The crowd reacted with
laughter and applause throughout the performance. Every member of the cast nimbly handled
the difficult task of communicating Shakespeare’s text in a clear and accessible way that every
ear and mind was able to absorb and follow, capturing the humor, pathos and double entendre
intended by the script, based on the laughter and applause by the audience. We were thrilled by
the blending of movement, music, dance and physical comedy throughout the performance.
Also delightful was the fantastical use of an everyday kitchen and bath essential that becomes
rain, flowers, bombs and/or bullets. We loved the entire cast, but were especially entertained by
notable performances from:
-Celia Evans as Hermia, her face totally transparent in her magnetic, heartfelt longing, despair
and joy;
-Suri Noelle is a delightful triple threat in her role as Helena in her moments of surprise and
shock, and who moves and transforms into reptilian ecstasy and moves like a limber ballerina
throughout. These two are ferocious actors; totally convincing in their feisty fight choreography
scene;
-Eli Strain’ as Puck/Philostrate executes perfect arabesques, pirouettes, delicate songs and
deft acrobatics, deftly shape-shifting into an unrecognizable, magical Wonka-esque spirit;
-Siahvash Marshall magically convincing as both Theseus/Titania;
-Jakai-Nysasia as the mysteriously convincing Hyppoloita/Oberon;
These actors are dazzlingly convincing in their gender-swapping.
This is a dazzling olympic disco of a show that’s definitely worth your precious Fringe time. You
will be entertained and charmed by the entire wonderful cast. We both agree it deserves at
least 5 stars.
Get Your Tickets HERE!! Midsummer! | Edinburgh Festival Fringe
