Shakespeare in Clark Park

Through Aug. 1, 7 p.m., free, 43rd Street and Chester Avenue, 215-462-2115, shakespeareinclarkpark.org.

by Mark Cofta

theater

Devising a concept for a Shakespeare play can be tricky, but for Shakespeare in Clark Park's fifth annual summer production, all director Maria Moller did was look around. Her ideas for A Midsummer Night's Dream "grew out of the bike-heavy culture of Clark Park ... and out of the way a bicycle transforms your movement and lets you fly." Since this romantic comedy is also Shakespeare's most fantastical play, designer Erica Hoelscher's costumes are, Moller explains, "a melange of Japanese cosplay, Burning Man and Vivienne Westwood — all extreme fashions ... that humans engage in to bring themselves closer to a 'magical' world." Stephen Hungerford's set uses aluminum trees "inspired by bicycle-based kinetic sculpture," while composer Andrew Nelson's live music employs everything from "regular old drums to bits of metal hanging off a bike frame." Most magical of all is the price: As always, SCP's performances are free.