Dominion Stage Puts a Horror Spin on Shakespeare in Appalachian Setting
Dominion Stage is presenting A Midsummer Night’s Dream with a horror-inflected interpretation set in Appalachia. Directed by Danni Guy, the production keeps Shakespeare’s original dialogue and plot while adding a surprise twist ending. The reviewer found the concept entertaining even though the Appalachian horror framing did not fully succeed.
Dominion Stage’s Virginia production places Shakespeare’s comedy in an eerie Appalachian landscape while retaining the original script and storyline. Director Danni Guy adds a surprise final twist. The reviewer found the evening enjoyable, though the horror-inflected regional concept only partly achieved its aim.
Angela Cirino’s Helena stood out for grounded, conversational delivery and believable emotion; she also opened the show with a folk rendition of “House of the Rising Sun.” Natalie Pendie drew attention as a cunning fairy attendant, using mostly physical comedy and few lines.
Productions like this may affect local theatergoers, Dominion Stage artists, and Shakespeare enthusiasts by offering a familiar classic through an unfamiliar regional and horror-inflected frame. It could draw audiences curious about reinterpretation, prompt discussion about how accents and setting shape meaning, and give performers chances to experiment. Its mixed execution may also remind community theaters that ambitious concepts can entertain even when not fully cohesive.