A Midsummer Night's Dream

I am the founder of The Haven Theatre Company in Los Angeles - and we are in the middle of performing our first production, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" using Diane Timmerman's spectacular script. We have to perform the play in one act -- and I was relieved to find a Midsummer script already edited to serve this purpose. Our show has received much praise since our opening -- people have said of the script that it is a brilliant cut. It retains all of the major plotlines and most of the characters -- but boils it down to plot and what is most relevant today. In fact, I think it's perfect for our modern audiences. One friend who saw the show, who is a producer at ABC television, said, he "didn't feel like was watching Shakespeare. -- It flew by, had terrific flow, and was very entertaining." I plan to use all of Diane Timmerman's scripts over the next few years!!! I couldn't encourage the use of her "A Midsummer Night's Dream" more.. it is fabulous. Sincerely, Ashley Ward

It's like reading the play anew. Even if you're looking to perform or teach the fuller version of R & J get this book. Never has the tragedy sounded so clear--no insult to the bard intended. Lines I never noticed before ring clear, true and beautiful. In fact since using Professor Timmerman's 90-Minute Midsummer Night's Dream for a production, and reading this Romeo and Juliet, I have gained an even greater appreciation for what Shakespeare's audiences reveled in and what great, glorious entertainment he created. So while these 90-Minute Shakespeares are an aid to production at any level, I'm finding them a contribution to scholarship and teaching.

I just finished staging a production of Midsummer with high school students. I had already started making my cuts when I came across Ms. Timmerman's text. I went back and compared--there was no comparison. What she gives is a clean, clear, plot-thrust version of the play. It made it a lot easier for me to see what I wanted to do with my production. I pray she continues.