TO the side of Heslington Hall is a garden door, guarded by a bonny young woman in a hat and Twenties' blue, who turns out to be Kosi Carter's Quince.

To find The Quiet Place, you must then follow each arrow in chalk, accompanied by the wording A Midsummer Night's Dream. Negotiating a pathway through the goose droppings, you spot a picnicking throng, gathered amid ornate topiary, and it is here where young York company Not Cricket Productions will lay their scene over the two next two hours.

As that indicates, this is a bright and brisk rendition of Shakespeare's evergreen comedy, with 15 of those minutes dedicated to more interval picnicking while the cast stays in character as the lovers chase each other around the gardens and the naying Bottom makes an ass of himself out of sight behind the hedging.

Director Kate Stephenson has moved her Dream to 1927, in the Jazz Age, still ostensibly in Athens, but oh-so English in character, with young men in striped jackets, cravats and PG Wodehouse accents and young girls in flapper dresses, courtesy of costume designer Felicity Stephenson.A tent provides a speedy exit and entry point that adds to the sense of magic.

From the off, Stephenson's cast of nine bonds with the audience over a series of familiar songs, such as Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love), revealing actor-musician jazz skills on guitar, saxophone, banjo and tea-chest percussion.

York Press:

Alex McLintock's Bottom and Kate Mason's Titania

Harry Benjamin's Theseus and Kate Mason's Hippolyta switch from leading the singing to a stern start, before lovers Hermia (Golfo Migos) and Lysander (Jared More) flee the stultifying city, followed closely by the outstanding Hannah Forsyth's Helena and Ross Telfer's Demetrius.

Joel Bates's Puck signals his puckish intent, blowing bubbles as he sings the West Ham anthem, and into the woods everyone ventures: the young lovers; the fairies; the sparring Oberon and Titania (Benjamin and Mason again); along with Alex McLintock's perky southerner Bottom, the most raucous of the "rude mechanicals", the hapless amateur theatrical troupe.

Stephenson's zestful show has plenty of magic, mischief, mayhem and merry music, with the cast members so enjoying their dual roles, duelling clashes and frivolous songs such as You're The Cream In My Coffee and I'd Rather Charleston.

There is even a dog for Hannah Forsyth's Starveling in the closing "Wall" play: last night it was Puggy, a King Charles/Pug cross, but there will be different guest pooch appearance every night, tonight's canine star being Monty, the Shih Tzu.

Hit The Road Jack brings it all to a triumphant finale as Not Cricket hit the spot. Further performances are at Rowntree Park, York, tonight, 7pm; Castle Gardens, Malton, tomorrow, 2pm and 7pm, and University Campus, Scarborough, Sunday, 7pm. Box office: simplyspiffing.co.uk