Yankees’ Puck

NYC actor returns for fourth Shakespeare on the Common

INTERVIEW. It’s time for the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s annual foray onto the Boston Common for what is becoming one of the city’s greatest summer traditions, free Shakespeare under the stars. This year the Bard’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will be presented at the Parkman Bandstand. New York-based Antonio Edwards-Suarez is returning for his fourth season with CSC.

Is this really that good of a gig?
I went to the ART and graduated in 2000. [Director] Steve [Maler] gave me my first equity gig, so anything he wants I’ll gladly do. He really takes care of us. He knows how to run this ship. I’m having a blast doing it. It’s a dream role and the audience is really so supportive. To look out every night and just see thousands of people enjoying your work really gets the adrenaline going.

Do you ever feel like you’re dying up there from the heat?
Sometimes it’s initially a little humid but when the sun comes down and it gets cool out the temperature is not a problem at all. It may get hot but it’s never like I want to stop. It’s never been like I can’t do this. It’s summer, we’re on the Common and everyone’s there to have a good time. So 100 or 50 [degrees], we’re going to bring it to them. We just love doing it.

You’ve got a great role this year.
Puck is great. He brings the couples together, a matchmaker, like eharmony or something. But he messes up at first and then it’s back to the drawing board. He’s not malicious but he has fun with the mismatches. I think if he had a dating site it’d be Puck.com.

Who would you hook up on puck.com?
I think I’d want to hook up Hillary and Obama.

Ick.
I don’t know where that came from it just came into my head. I didn’t say it was anything sexy. Puck gets it wrong at first too. I can fix it but it’s probably what the world would be like on Puck.com, a lot of mismatched couples. Like all of us, I think Puck and Oberon are just trying to make the world right for love to happen.

So your Puck is a bit of a romantic?
Actually, my Puck has some dark qualities. He can sometimes be flighty but he can also be mean and vindictive. …He can be a little devil sometimes, and an angel too. I’m hoping there’s equal balance but it may lean towards the devil, not malicious, just devilish. It’s got to be fun for everyone.

Why’s that?
Shakespeare on the Common is the first exposure a lot of people have to Shakespeare, so it’s got to be enjoyable and easy to understand and certainly a good time. I mean they come out with their blankets at 5:30 and have a picnic. When you come on stage you see this sea of people unlike anything else anywhere and they’re routing for you. …To come from New York to do this is like a dream.

Better than Shakespeare in Central Park?
In New York it’s more contained. They have more performances but there’s not this huge sea of people every night that make you want to give it to them like this. It’s a great show and it’s going to be a lot of fun.

Shakespeare on the Common: ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’
Tonight, 8
Boston Common
Parkman Bandstand, Boston
MBTA: Red or Green Line to Park
Free, 617-532-1212
www.freeshakespeare.org