Shakespeare in Prescott Park is being introduced this year with “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” one of the esteemed playwright’s best known and most loved comedies.

“There’s unrequited love, magical fairies, and mystical-ness,” said the production’s director, Christine Penney. “On top of it all, it’s hilariously funny.” 

The Prescott Park Arts Festival is hosting three afternoon performances of the independent production on Sundays July 24, 31 and Aug. 13, all starting at 2 p.m. Admission is by donation at the waterfront park on Macy Street in Portsmouth.  

The play follows four young lovers with complicated ties and a group of amateur actors who fall under the spell of fairies of the forest. The stories of these three sets of characters are intermingled, and there’s even a play a within the play.

The show stars Seacoast favorites CJ Lewis, Camden Brown, Megan Quinn, Chelsea Hermann, Becky Rudolf, Chris Savage, Matthew Schofield, Andy Fling, Robin Fowler, and Alden Caple. 

The fairies in the production are not the timid and gentle archetypes, but more like gods and goddesses, Penney noted. When the king, Oberon (Lewis), is at odds with the Queen, Titania (Quinn), the rest of the world is misaligned. 

Penney’s vision for the production includes connecting the fairies to natural elements. Oberon is earth-based, Titania represents water, and the burning mischievousness of Puck (Brown) is fiery.   

The whimsical fairy costumes have been created by Joi Smith and masks are being crafted from leather by Trevor Bartlett (an employee of The Wire), who also designed the promotional poster. The masks include the donkey’s head that Puck’s pranks put on the foolish Nick Bottom character.

Lewis said the characters are learning a physical language to supplement the text. He described Oberon as having raw power, being temperamental and capable of great anger, but still also being playful. Quinn said Titania flows like the sea in shades of aqua. 

“Everybody is playing to their strengths,” Lewis said. “Everybody gets to show their chops.”

He said the entire cast has rarely rehearsed all together, which makes it more interesting and fresh when the real world collides with the fantastical.

Though spoken in Shakespeare’s poetic language, Penney said the play is relatable and easily understood, and the characters are immediately recognizable.

It’s not a musical, but Penney said there are a few musical numbers. The play is choreographed by Sarah Duclos, who brings in additional dancers. It’s accompanied by original music composed by Jonny Peiffer.

The stage set is the same as “The Wizard of Oz,” which continues showings throughout the summer, and the outdoor venue lends itself to a play set in the forest.

Penney said she hopes to surprise the audience as well as entertain. “There’s something in this show for everyone,” she said.

She said another year without a Shakespeare play in the park would be a missed opportunity. Prescott Park Arts Festival executive director Ben Anderson has said he also had been hoping to start an annual showing of Shakespeare.“Everybody at some point reads Shakespeare.

Everybody sees it, or at least everybody at some point should get the opportunity to do that,” Quinn said. “It’s a fun show and everybody likes it.”

For more information, visit www.prescottpark.org.