"Dream," adapted and directed by Palmer, takes a new and interesting spin on the play by setting it as a 1920s silent film (though none of Shakespeare's poetic verse has been lost) with the actors portraying '20s period stars. Of note are Maggie Chapin playing Charlie Chaplin playing Bottom and Jen Waters playing Puck as Max Schreck's Count Orlok from 1922's "Nosferatu."

This 1920s style was, undoubtedly, difficult to achieve, but it works well with this show. Palmer said that two weeks of the four-week rehearsal schedule was dedicated to perfecting the melodramatic style of the period, making this one of the most difficult shows veteran actors Chapin and Tom Cavanaugh have performed in. Even so, all the actors make it look easy, and the hard work pays off with each actor giving a wonderful performance.

As written, "Dream" is a funny show, and the 1920s melodrama brings that comedy forward in ways more traditional performances cannot and I found myself laughing throughout the show. For example, at one point Puck delivers a potion to a pair of sleeping lovers. In a traditional performance, he would rub or pour the potion on their eyes, but in this production the lovers sit up, take the cup, drink, hand the cup back, and lay back down, all in stilted, exaggerated motions.  

A highlight of this show, as with most any performance of "Dream," are the "mechanicals," a group of tradesmen who gather to perform a show for the Duke's wedding. Here, Palmer has cast the group as representing slapstick comedy legends of the `20s, like Charlie Chaplin.

The costumes, designed by Barbara Mason, fit each character wonderfully. From the dashing Demetrius and Lysander to the tailor Robin Starveling and the Zigfried Follies-inspired fairies, every costume looks as if it came right out of a silent film. The actors also wear period-style makeup with white faces and dark shadows and lips, as if they were shooting a black-and-white film. This gives the performance a really interesting visual style while allowing the actors to exaggerate their expressions, which is especially useful in a large, outdoor theatre setting.

 "A Midsummer Night's Dream" has something for everyone: romance, comedy, intrigue, action, and more. A note about weather, though: Corvallis gets a cool breeze from the west most nights, and the Memorial Union quad is shaded in the evening, so be sure to bring a jacket or a blanket.

"A Midsummer Night's Dream" runs through August 3. For more information and to order tickets, visit OSU Theatre.