A Midwinter Night’s Revel

Written by John Heimbuch
Directed by Amy Rummenie

December 4 – 30, 2015

Red Eye Theater

In the dark midwinter, shadowed by the Great War, a changeling boy appears from the fairy realm. Soon the village’s mere mortals are swept up in the chaotic wake of a magical rivalry, while Puck makes mischief with a band of holiday players. But when an arcane power is tapped, it takes everyone to pull the world back together. An enchanting Yuletide revel written by company member John Heimbuch, in the spirit of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Reviews

“Written by the estimable John Heimbuch and directed by the always inspired Amy Rummenie, Revel has at its core a brilliant premise: that woven into this humdrum (and English) “real world” of death and work and war (the play is set in 1915) is a mythic Fairy-Land, where obtains immortality, magic and endless fun. And sometimes, in our peripheral vision, if we’re ready (or if we have a magic staff – this will make sense if you see the play), we can see this fantastical world. And sometimes its creatures can visit us – or pull us in… A Midwinter Night’s Revel is written in rhyming couplets. But before you let this send you screaming into the long midwinter night, know that Heimbuch handles language brilliantly. His couplets have no singsong staticness. They’re lovely. Indeed, in his use of language Heimbuch reveals himself to be a playwright of poise, power and maturity. It’s the best reason to see A Midwinter Night’s Revel… The performances are wonderful. Ditto the design. And the play, more effectively than anything I’ve ever seen, explores the wild magic, the mythic power, the wintry lyricism of Yuletide. It’s an antidote to the repeats and the treacle. It’s worthwhile.”
-John Olive, HowWasTheShow

“Walking Shadow Theatre Company has decided to give us a look at how traditions came to be with A Midwinter Night’s Revel getting its world premiere in a stately, dense, visually handsome production playing till December 30 at Red Eye. Using A Midsummer Night’s Dream as a starting point, playwright and company Co-Artistic Director John Heimbuch has crafted a magically melancholic tale about love, loss, magic, and other things that happen around the Solstice while slipping in old Pagan traditions, references to several other Shakespearean plays, and a big nod and wink to the tradition of the Mummers plays… A Midwinter Night’s Revel is a contemplative, moody, and magical tonic to the usual holiday fare. Using the classic tale as a starting point, Walking Shadow’s latest production has given the Twin Cities a quiet reprieve from all the joy of the season to give us a touching tale perfect for the dark nights of the season.”
-Todd O’Dowd, l’Etoile Magazine