(Above: The cast of Midsummer, a Musical, at Pegasus Playhouse in downtown Springfield)
By Daniel Buckwalter
In the end, everyone finds their true love, but partners in each saga twist themselves into pretzels at almost every step of the way — overthinking the other’s intentions, trying their best to foreshadow the truth until they are paralyzed with angst.
In other words, welcome to romantic musical comedy.
And, in particular, welcome to the quirky and charming Midsummer, a Musical, which wrapped up its first weekend of shows on Aug. 17 at Pegasus Playhouse in downtown Springfield. The cast and crew will be at it again Aug. 22-24.
Midsummer, A Musical, is the brainchild of Scott Frazier-Maskiell, founder of Pegasus and its artistic director. He wrote the music and lyrics to all 14 numbers that all 13 members of the cast participate in with adoration for their characters.
It is loosely based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but the music certainly is what Frazier-Maskiell noted in the run-up to opening night as a 1990s mixtape of folk rock, something you certainly would not have imagined in Shakespeare’s time.
There’s also mild adult language in the production, and the romantic partnerships in this musical are decidedly lesbian in nature, both of which gives Midsummer, A Musical its charm. After all, this is 2025.
Polly (Tere Tronson) and Thea (Robin Santa-Teresa) open the show singing Young And In Love in anticipation of their daughter’s wedding. They are longtime partners, and Polly sings with pride, while Thea sings with icy rigidity because everything has to be right. Thea will loosen up near the end.
They (mostly Thea) have arranged to have their daughter — the free-spirited Mia (Lexy Menjivar-Grueskin) — marry the button-downed office administrator Dani (Elena Morris). Except that Mia doesn’t want to marry Dani. She’s in love with Zander (Levi Stewart).
Dani is devastated, but this is an opening for Mia’s good friend Ella (Alycia Culcane), who has had her eye on Dani for some time. Dani isn’t interested, and things are falling apart, much to the consternation of Thea.
To the rescue — in their own endearing way — are the wise fairies with Spock-like ears, Oberon (Christopher Ridgely) and Titania (Zoe Banuelos), along with their well-intentioned, if sometimes clueless and scene-stealing apprentice Puck (Melinda Meyer).
Madness ensues, accompanied by guitarist Pete (Scott Frazier-Maskiell), fiddler Francis (Erin Frazier-Maskiell), drummer Pug (Kalyx Bergman), and Nick (Alex Carr) on any instrument the band will let him play.
Midsummer, A Musical has three performances remaining at Pegasus Playhouse, 402 Main St., Springfield. There are 7 p.m. shows Friday, Aug. 22 and Saturday, Aug. 23, as well as the finale at 6 p.m. on Aug. 24.
Tickets are $17 to $25 and can be purchased online at PegasusPlayHouse.com.
