Educational Media Reviews Online

In the fall of 2002, two theatre companies took an amazing journey that would change them forever. During that time the Artists Repertory Theatre of Portland, Oregon and the Central Dramatic Company of Hanoi began work on a bilingual, bicultural production of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream to be performed in Vietnam. It would be the first time the play was performed in that country. This documentary chronicles the entire process, from the Americans' arrival in Vietnam, through the rehearsal and technical process, to the performances, and then to the Americans' eventual departure. Along the way, the viewing audience is privy to the various struggles that occur when two cultures collide. As the two troupes work through artistic differences and political red tape, they provide a unique insight into the human dynamics at play in any artistic and multicultural collaboration.

The film shows the entire artistic process, including rehearsals, dramaturgical discussions, technical rehearsals and even the costume parade. Of particular interest are the discussions between the directors and dramaturge about the text and script editing. Discussions about which parts should be spoken in English and which parts should be spoken in Vietnamese become particularly contentious. Tempers flare and tears are shed, but in the end a new and lasting bond is formed among the participants. It is also fascinating to watch the scenes in which Vietnamese and American actors help each other learn the lines that will have to be spoken in a language foreign to their own. Of course, memories of the war and the bitter feelings it engendered are always just under the surface. This tension underlies the entire film and adds another sociological layer to this complex undertaking.

The audio and video quality of this tape is excellent, especially considering that it is shot in a multitude of locations and under a variety of circumstances. The editing is tight, and keeps the story moving at just the right pace. Weidlinger has also chosen to juxtapose the story of A Midsummer Night's Dream to the production process. Scenes from the production of Shakespeare's play are inter-cut with footage of meetings and rehearsals. The various turns and machinations contained in Midsummer inform the process taking place behind the scenes in the theatre in a very interesting way.

This international collaboration was organized by the Vietnam America Theatre Exchange (VATE). Kudos to them for taking on such an ambitious and important project. And kudos to Tom Weidlinger for having the foresight to capture this worthwhile endeavor on film. This is an excellent video for both public and academic libraries. The subject matter is presented in a unique and accessible way. It is a must for any library that wants a well-rounded collection of Shakespearean videos, and would be an important addition to any library specializing in multicultural studies.

Awards:

• Festival Favorite/Audience Award, Sedona International Film Festival
• Best Documentary, Moab Film Festival
• Opening Night Gala Film, Film Arts Foundation Film Festival
• Nominated for Best Documentary, Hawaii International Film Festival