A Dream Performance

State Street Ballet’s performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Granada was an enchanting show full of mishaps and mayhem.

The William Shakespeare work, with rollicking music written in 1843 by Felix Mendelssohn – he composed the overture when just 17 – and inventive choreography by company founder Rodney Gustafson, transcended the two worlds of mortals and fairies, a whimsical and humorous homage to the transformative power of love with mischief, magic, and romance.

Much credit goes to Marika Kobayashi and Ryan Lenkey, and Deise Mendonça and Hernan Montenegro as the besotted lovers in the one-act ballet. Kaito Yamamoto as the mischievous fairy Puck was also a standout, along with Nerea Barrondo as Titania, Harold Mendez as Oberon, and the ever-entertaining Sergei Domrachev as Bottom, among the talented cast.

The entertaining program also featured three opening contemporary works – Tango Rain, set to the sensuous Argentinian music of Astor Piazzolla, choreographed by William Soleau, co-artistic director, pulsating Fold by Kassandra Taylor Newberry, centered around a game of poker to the music of Gladiator film composer Hans Zimmer, and a charming pas de deux, Spring Waters, to music by Rachmaninoff choreographed by Asaf Messerer.