San Anton Gardens will take on a magical and mysterious aspect for nine nights from Friday, July 15, with the opening of MADC’s 65th annual representation of a play by William Shakespeare.

Audiences are in for an interesting and entertaining evening as the idyllic wooded crescent in The Gardens becomes the setting for the most popular of Shakespeare’s comedies.

Directed by Nanette Brimmer, A Midsummer Night’s Dream portrays the adventures of four young lovers and a group of amateur actors, their interactions with woodland faeries and a duke planning a feast for his marriage to his betrothed.

There is a handsome fairy king, a misguided parent, star-crossed lovers, a weaver who’s transformed into a half-donkey, wood sprites and elves. All takes place a mythical Athens and an enchanted forest

This work is widely performed around the world, and no wonder – it’s about the world’s most popular pastime, falling in love. But as Puck knows, “falling in love can make fools of us all”.

The cast includes Davide Tucci, Joseph Zammit, Steffi Thake and Maria Buckle as the young Athenian lovers, together with Roger Tirazona, Becky d’Ugo, James Borg, John Marinelli and Stephen Galea in the Athenian court.

Julia Calvert plays Titania, Antony Edridge – Oberon, Christian Galea – Puck together with faeries Naomi Said, Maria Cassar, Hannah Grech Pirotta, Jasmine Farrugia and Mandy Randon.

The Mechanicals are played by Michael Mangion, Joe Depasquale, Myron Ellul, Colin Willis, Alexander Gatesy Lewis and Leander Schembri.

• A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs at San Anton Gardens, Attard from July 15-19, and July 20-24. Patrons are asked to be seated by 8.30pm.

Tickets may be obtained online at www.madc. com.mt or by calling 7777 6232.