(Above: The band of actors who play and sing during Very Little Theatre’s Midsummer: A Musical includes, left to right, Basia Brady as Pug, Scott Frazier-Maskiell as Pete, Achilles Massahos as Nick, and Meagan Ruvolo as Francis; photos by Rich Scheeland)

By Kelly Oristano

You’re not dreaming, but you can be forgiven for thinking you are. Eugene area theatergoers have a unique opportunity this month to see the world premiere of an all new and thoroughly charming musical when Midsummer: A Musical plays July 6-14 at the Very Little Theatre

Scott Frazier-Maskiell, who wrote the book, lyrics, and music — and also directs the show — has adapted Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream to a brisk two-act contemporary musical with 13 original songs in a modern musical theater/folk style. The music is played onstage by musician-actors playing fiddle, guitar, ukulele, and percussion.

Lead roles in Scott Frazier-Maskiell’s original musical include, left to right, Hillary Humphreys as Titania, Allen Hambrick as Puck, and Jeff Wisdom as Oberon

The cast includes Allen Hambrick as Puck, Jeff Wisdom as Oberon, Hillary Humphreys as Titania, Matthew Arscott as Zander, Rob Roberts as Theo, Kari Boldon Welch as Polly, India Potter as Ella, Achilles Massahos as Nick, Cortney Grant as Mia, Basia Brady as Pug, Meagan Ruvolo as Francis, and Harrison Berg as Danny.

EugeneScene.org was graciously given a sneak peek last week while stick swordfights and stolen smooches were still being choreographed. But the music was already deep and lovely and the voices marvelous throughout the cast. There are four duets and a trio in the first act, and each of them has stunning folk rock harmonies. The tender storytelling and rich, emotional music make this show a balm for our troubled times.

The composer/writer/lyricist/director told me what was different about staging an all-new musical, as opposed to one with which the cast would be familiar.

“I sent the cast the song files to practice with, (first) with the vocals and later without,” Frazier-Maskiell said. And, “eventually with the violin part included, because it has such a voice.”

This is true. In the sneak preview, the violin got many of the best laughs in Act One.

“Prepping a new show feels a bit scary, but there is that sense of the new. That this is happening for the first time,” Frazier-Maskiell said.  “As the director as well as the writer, it was good to see what worked and get rid of what didn’t, for this original cast.”

I asked Kari Boldon Welch, who plays Polly, called Hippolyta in Shakespeare’s original play, what was most fun about putting this project together.

After initially rehearsing only in small groups, “It was delightful to suddenly see what everyone else was doing with their characters,” Boldon Welch said. “I love Achilles (Massahos) as Nick.” A song called “Midsummer,”  Massahos’ feature song in the second act, “is my favorite song in the show,” she said. “It’s like something John Denver would have written.”

Leaving aside that the real midsummer approaches during the play’s run, a theatrical event like this could not be better suited to the present moment. I asked Boldon Welch and Frazier-Maskiell how much the realities of 2018 motivate their forceful creation of a fun, whimsical, almost gossamer, but also deeply felt show that fiercely opposes that energy we all feel outside.

As his show does, Frazier-Maskiell cut right to the point.

“I believe in the validity of entertainment, and yes, escape,” he said. “I don’t think creative energy goes away — may as well use it in a love song. Better than a stealth bomber.”

Boldon Welch had a similar insight to the drive that this small, bright-eyed troupe will put on display for the two weekends of the show’s run.

“Don’t you just want to walk away from all that noise for awhile?  Don’t you want to hope that the world can be a better place?” she asked rhetorically. “That a god can come in and touch everyone with a magic flower and set everyone’s heart on the right path? We all want to believe that in the end love will win, and for this brief hour and a half in time, it does.”

And that hour and a half might almost risk being too brief. Certainly we can tell who is human and who is fairy and see them scheme and plot against and sometimes for each other, but there’s little of Shakespeare’s pondering the original play’s great themes.

Rather, the events of the plot are used to comically and efficiently move us from song to beautiful song. The songs do approach and address Shakespeare’s themes, directly or by poetic license. In publicity materials for the show, Frazier-Maskiell said, “I have definitely messed with the source material, but my hope is that if Shakespeare is rolling in his grave, it is to the rhythm of the music!”

They also told me what they hoped the audience might take away with them as they leave the theater, and I think their answers are instructive, because I know they are true.

“I hope the music and this cast stays with them. Happiness,” Frazier-Maskiell said.

As for Boldon Welch, “Love.  All of the songs in this show are about love. Different aspects of it, the pain, the joy, the comfort. We want people leaving believing love can manifest in their lives.”

I think the effect of the whole piece will be much like a dream. A pleasant one that you do your best to remember.

Midsummer: A Musical

When: 7:30 p.m. on July 6-7 and 12-13, with 2:00 p.m. matinees on July 8 and 14

Where: Very Little Theater’s Stage Left performance area, 2350 Hilyard St., Eugene

Admission: $12 general admission, available at the box office, 541-344-7751, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; or online at TheVLT.com

Details: Some “saucy humor and adult themes”