Midsummer Night’s magic interrupted with economics and self-promotion...Puck!

Last night I went to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the park, Shakespeare in the Park that is, Kansas City style. The organizers and promoters made lengthy announcements before the play. One after another, they told us how great they were, how they need more money to do this, the corporate underwriters and all that jazz. Their sermons detracted from the magic of the play for me. But that’s the way of theater here. Preludes of announcements, pleas for money, and reminders to silence cells. To do something different… imagine people coming into a theater they know has a play commencing at 8. For the house lights to dim at the appointed time. For the play to just begin.