FAIRY GOOD TIME ALIVE IN `DREAM'.

Byline: Victoria Giraud Special to the Daily News

Shakespeare's ``A Midsummer Night's Dream,'' presented at Kingsmen Park by the Santa Susana Repertory Company and California Lutheran University, is a riotous play, superbly directed by Lane H. Davies.

In this first Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival, Davies brings out the wild and bawdy aspects of the Bard's comedy.

With a truly excellent cast, ``A Midsummer Night's Dream'' keeps its audience entertained throughout with its various love stories - from fairies to

aristocrats - which, despite trials and tribulations, eventually come to happy endings.

As Shakespeare so aptly says, ``The course of true love never did run smooth.'' Against the background of the coming marriage of Theseus, the duke of Athens (Niall Padden) to Hippolyta (Jennifer Grimes), love between various couples has run amok.

The stubbornly independent Hermia (Alexandra Powers) protests a decree by her father, Egeus (Richard Harwood), that she marry Demetrius (Derek Medina) because she really loves Lysander (Brett Elliot). The sassy Helena (J.J. Rodgers) loves Demetrius, but her persistent pursuit of him goes unrewarded.

Powerful Oberon, the king of the fairies (the dynamic Terry Lester), loves his queen, Titania (Ruth Cordell), but they are at odds. To teach Titania a lesson, Oberon orders his minion Puck (Jeff Wallach) to give her a magic potion so that when she awakens, she will fall in love with whomever she sees first.

At the same time, Puck is instructed to solve the lovers' triangle by anointing Demetrius so that when he sees Helena, he'll fall in love with her. Puck mistakenly uses the potion on Lysander, who upon seeing Helena falls in love, leaving Hermia distraught. In the meantime Titania, deluded by the potion, affixes her attentions on the confused Bottom (Mark Blankfield), who, acting like a fool, has magically acquired the head of an ass.

Slapstick comedy at its best is provided by the earnest troupe of workmen (Shakespeare calls them ``rude mechanicals''), who are devising the play ``Pyramus and Thisbe'' for Theseus' wedding.

Blankfield's Bottom very nearly steals the play - but then he has so many of the hilarious lines. But his compatriots Marc Silver, Charles Hutchins, Kevin P. Kern, Rosey Brown and Larry Novikoff as Flute, Quince, Snug, Snout and Starveling respectively, add their own outrageous touches.

Others in the cast included: Jonathan Kunke, Keith Toll, Kenny Toll, Allie Maida, Lindsey Murray, Allie Rhodes, Libby Lindgren, Bridgette Lindgren and Jose Viramontes. Jeff Asch, who normally plays Puck, was absent the night I attended.

There's not space to adequately convey all the plot twists and levity this play provides. Definitely go see it. Because of all the physical action and comedy, it's suitable for the entire family. Along with your own chairs, don't forget jackets and extra blankets, however. Once the sun goes down, Kingsmen Park can get very damp and chilly.

Food in the English Renaissance mode and drink is available at the site or you may bring your own picnic.

THE FACTS:

WHAT: ``A Midsummer Night's Dream'' by William Shakespeare.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. today and Sunday; park opens at 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Kingsmen Park, CLU Campus, 60 West Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks.

COST: Free to the public. Limited assigned seats available for $20 per person.

INFORMATION: [phone].