Shakespeare Goes to Study Hall

Shakespeare and kids share a meeting of the minds in Pacific Resident Theatre’s teen-driven “A Midsummer Night’s Dream, or the Night They Missed the Forest for the Trees.”

In Nancy Linehan Charles’ version, directed by Sarah Zinsser, kids in study hall discover that “Shakespeare knew all about teenagers and their dreams” when three bossy seniors order them to act out the forest romp.

The “artsy” kids become the mischievous fairies; the nerds are the buffoonish players rehearsing their latest opus; and a paired-off couple and their singleton friends are the enchanted young lovers.

The seniors are the storytellers and the adults in the piece: Lilly Ockwell plays angry dad Egeus, who sets the tale in motion by demanding his daughter marry the groom of his choice or die; Jessie Clemens is the Duke of Athens, who judges the case; Suzanne Cambou plays Hippolyta.

The trio explains what’s happening--”OK, plot point here”--and comments on the action. When Hermia (a remarkably convincing Emily Haymer) tells eager Lysander (Te’Amir Sweeney) to “not lie so near,” Clemens interjects, “Tell, him girl.”

Addressing the audience as if it is part of the classroom is less entertaining; a little goes a long way. Rote recitation is thankfully limited; most of the actors are winningly enjoying themselves.

The bumbling players--Jack Cambou, Chris Sands, Ricky Lira, Tutu Sweeney, Miles Markus and Matt Levine--steal the show, led by Markus as Quince. Levine’s uninhibited turn as Bottom, Quince’s leading man and fairy queen Titania’s “translated” donkey-eared love, is choice.

Make no mistake: The production is akin to a well-directed school play, with young actors of varied experience. But Charles’ adaptation is deftly shaped, and the cast’s interpretation of the much-abbreviated text is sometimes laugh-out-loud funny.

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“A Midsummer Night’s Dream, or the Night They Missed the Forest for the Trees,” Pacific Resident Theatre, 703 Venice Blvd., Venice, Sundays at 12 and 3 p.m. through Sept. 16. $5 to $10. (310) 822-8392. Running time: 45 minutes.