Sat. Jan. 23 & Sun. Jan. 24

Using simple sets, some silliness, and student actors from Boston Arts Academy, Actors’ Shakespeare Project takes their cold midwinter audiences on warm and wondrous journey to a land of fairies, frolic, and love. It's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," of course. Set against what start out as simple white sheets in the cavernous black box of Midway Studios in Boston’s Fort Point Channel, the story becomes more vivid as the play goes on, the wardrobe changes from royal court to rock concert, and the pixie dust of love begins to take over. Though the main characters in the main plot start out a bit stiff, even they become enrapt in the romance by play’s end. In the meantime, the ham-filled interlude put on by the rustic guildmembers offers a charming subplot that gives its participants more than enough room to stretch and shine. And though usual scene-stealing suspect John Kuntz is constrained to a barrel during his most energetic performance, he makes the most out of his role as play-within-a-play director Peter Quince and the most out of a scarf and other simple pieces. In contrast, the usually serious Robert Walsh lets his ass wave as the beasted Bottom, using his “monstrous little voice” to squeeze every syllable and eating up the entire performance space even as he dies on stage.

Among the other notable performances are those by a Marianna Bashaam as a dyed-in-the-hair aggro Tatiana, Jennie Israel as the cynical, scolding, stung serpent Hermia, and Maurice Emmanuel Parent as a punk Puck who flies around the stage with energy, mischief and malice. Also of note are the student performers from BAA who are working with ASP in a special educational program (one of ASP’s many community programs). Though but students of the art, they hold their own and help the regular company members hold this happy story of the fickle sport of love together. With dreamy, drowsy drones that culminate in a “Thriller”-esque dance number and bits taken from “Stomp,” “The Lion King” and “Blue Man Group,” ASP put a lot into this small space and those who enter it with them are sure to get a lot out of it.

Tickets: $47-$25. It's up Thurs-Sun. Jan 21-24. Evening shows are at 7:30 or 8; matinees at 2 or 3. Check website below for times.

(contributed by Matt Robinson)

15 Channel Center Street in Fort Point Channel, 866-811-41111 www.actorsshakespeareproject.org