If you are going to do fairies there can be no holding back, so wunderkind English choreographer Liam Scarlett unashamedly mixes, in this sparkling new production, 110 per cent magic with a gorgeous design by Tracy Grant Lord, an intricately stitched up score of Mendelssohn's music, courtesy of the company's musical director Nigel Gaynor, and a lighting design from Kendall Smith that animates the whole like an ongoing shower of fabulous fairy dust.
The sylphs flit gorgeously through their forest glade decked in exquisitely OTT tutus in paua shell shades, Oberon and Puck stylishly sleek in matching hues.
Safari colours of cream and gold cleverly place the two pairs of lovers in another dimension and their bumble of assistants bear a distinct whiff of youth hostelry.
The fairies, who pop out from all over the multi-dimensional set, are spirited, even stroppy. Tiny Tonia Looker, Titania in the opening night cast, seems made for the role and combines regal queen, feisty partner and lust-struck girl to perfection. Her closing true-love duet with Oberon (a handsome MacLean Hopper) is sublime.
Shaun James Kelly, stepping up for an injured Kohei Iwamoto, is a cute, rather than quicksilver Puck but still has all the moves. Abigail Boyle as Helena, wins the comic stakes in a chase sequence that makes for a laugh out loud, Benny Hill moment.
