Fringe popular play 'Midsummer' returns to SH stage

"Midsummer," jointly created by Scottish playwright David Greig and song writer Gordon Mclntyre, is being staged at Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center through September 27.

Premiered during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2009, this alternative love story centers on Helena and Bob, a pair that drawn together by a series of not so much romantic as crazy incidents over midsummer weekend.

Helena is a divorce lawyer, while Bob is a broker selling stolen cars for the mob. Both 35 years old, they are experiencing struggles common among many ordinary people of their age: pressure from life, family relationships, and conflicts between ideals and reality.

Despite the feelings of confusion, loneliness, and even suffocation, the protagonists didn't forget to remind the audience: there is still hope, and there is no need to trap yourself. As the frequently recurring line goes: change is possible.

The play has been staged at the Arts Center in 2014, and is making a return after 10 years.

In the original version, the songs Mclntyre tailored for the play are well-coordinated with the plot. Although the music is not emphasized in this adaptation by the Dramatic Arts Center, the actors' seamless transition between multiple roles still stands out as a highlight.

Performance info

Dates: Through September 27, 2:pm/7:30pm

Tickets: 180-380 yuan

Venue: Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center 上海话剧艺术中心

Address: 288 Anfu Rd 安福路288号