When most people think of Shakespeare, they get the image of people in ruffed collars, like the infamous character who holds up the skull and recites the passage from “Hamlet.” Iowa State’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” however, throws all those stereotypes about Shakespeare for a curve.

The actors use the original Shakespearean language, but it is acted so well and hilariously that any meaning that is lost in the English can be picked up by even the most novice Shakespeare scholar. The story centers around two couples, Hermia and Lysander and Helena and Demetrius, both of which experience relationship problems. Hermia is engaged to Demetrius but in love with Lysander, and Helena is in love with Demetrius, but he shuns her because he’s infatuated with Hermia. All of this is set against the backdrop of Athenian rule and an enchanted forest filled with mischievous fairies.

Sound like a complicated plot? It is. However, it is also probably one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies. It’s also one of the most sexually charged, which gave Shakespeare’s audiences a thrill, and left the audience at Fisher in laughter. A lot of the humor also depended on the over-the-top acting and slapstick elements.

Mariana Seda, sophomore in English, as Hermia; Genevieve Henricks, sophomore in English, as Helena; Brendan Dunphy, senior in zoology, as Lysander; and Nathan Zobel as Demetrius; all played their roles so well as the love-struck rivals that they were catty and hilarious at the same time. Some of the other notable performances included Genya Coffey, senior in elementary education, as Titania; and Jordan Whalen as Oberon; the queen and king of fairies, respectively. Ellis Wells, senior in performing arts, also delivered a humorous performance as Puck, Oberon’s right-hand man.

Directed by music lecturer Karla Kash, “Midsummer” is a sensation overload. It features a woodland set with trees, a movable fairy nest and a Grecian building. The colors are bright and give a lush feeling that lends itself to the story and setting.

One of the most crucial elements to the show, though, is the costuming. It stands as a sharp anachronism to the Shakespearean language, with most the characters in clothes that look modern. Color is what connects the two couples to each other and also the fairy world they enter in the forest. The fairy costumes are truly impressive, from their gossamer gowns to their exotic makeup and pointed ears.

Shakespeare can become extremely heavy if it’s loaded down with the language and traditional costumes. However, this production of “Midsummer” is infused with such vibrant energy that Shakespeare is anything but dull. “Midsummer” updates the look but retains the dialogue for any Shakespeare purists out there. Instead, it merely combines the two elements to create a unique experience. It’s a fun adaptation that provides humor, appeals to the senses and is accessible to a modern audience while keeping its roots.