The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival hung the moon for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

PSF hangs the moon literally, with a rope and pulley raising a two-dimensional lunar image every evening over the Air Products Open Air Theatre where William Shakespeare’s comedy classic sallies forth.

The outdoor stage, built on the grass mall on the campus of DeSales University, approximately between the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts and Trexler Library, faces west for the natural light. Curtain time is moved from 8 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

“Midsummer” is trimmed to 90 minutes with no intermission. Each theater-goer brings his or her own folding chair. A place for each chair is chalked out on the grass. PSF ushers escort each theater-goer. Ushers and PSF staff wear face masks.

Patrons who are vaccinated do not have to wear face masks outdoors, but must wear face masks in Labuda and campus buildings, per DeSales COVID-19 protocol. Parking for patrons’ vehicles is on nearby lots. A concrete walkway leads to the outdoor theater, with a smooth temporary walk leading to the seating area.

Necessity warranted the new outdoor stage, a first for PSF, canceled on account of the pandemic in summer 2020.

With the first day of summer June 20 and the last day of summer Sept. 22, “Midsummer,” which opened July 9 (with previews July 7 and 8) and concludes Aug. 1, couldn’t be better positioned for the season.

Part of the July 9 opening night performance (cut short at 6:59 p.m. because of a lightning threat and a thunderstorm that developed) and the entire July 14 performance was seen for this review.

The PSF actors do not wear face masks and interact, sing, tumble, cavort, hug and even kiss during “Midsummer.”

The singing, especially the ensemble, is splendid in the original score by Alex Bechtel, with musicians on, at times, three guitars, two ukuleles, cello, accordion, xylophone, bass drum and two snare drums. The drum-line, marching to the stage, heralds the start of the show, soon joined by an exuberant cast in lovely gowns, fun get-ups and contemporary outfits in the costume design by Olivera Gajic.

In the direction by Matt Pfeiffer, “Midsummer” unfolds as an eyes-wide-open “Dream,” the cast energetically working the entire stage, grassy areas in front of the stage and at the side of the stage. There’s even a trapdoor (After all, what would a Shakespeare play be without a trapdoor?).

The outdoor setting seems to have liberated Pfeiffer’s band of merry thespians, invigorating them with a freedom of movement and interaction with each other and the audience.

While microphones are worn and two huge vertical speaker towers amplify words and music in the sound design by David M. Greenberg, there’s no lighting glaring in the actors’ eyes, no looking out into a dark theater of a slightly visible audience, and few technical cues to calculate into a performance. This is Shakespeare as one imagines audiences in The Bard’s Globe Theatre (referenced in the outdoor stage design by Steve TenEyck) experienced circa 1599-1644.

It’s Puck ever after with Mary Tuomanen taking center stage with sparkling energy, in terrific voice and an enthusiasm that enervates the entire show.

Ian Merril Peakes as the redoubtable Nick Bottom struts and voices stridently the role, even more so when transformed to a donkey when he really kicks up his heels.

As the gamine Hermia, Kathryn Tkel charms and stands her ground, as does her counterpart Brett Ashley Robinson, a brash and bold Helena.

Akeem Davis prevaricates effectively as Demetrius, while Luigi Sottile is no bystander as Lysander.

Holding court are Eleanor Handley, elegant and regal, respectively, as Hippolyta and Titania, and Lindsay Smiling, imposing and earnest, respectively, as Theseus and Oberon.

Bi Jean Ngo, as Egeus and Quince, is alternately staunch and intense.

“Midsummer Night’s Dream” represents a joyful return for the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. Kudos to PSF Producing Artistic Director Patrick Mulcahy, the staff and board of directors for pushing forward. Without Shakespeare, it would have been another sad summer.

And so we bid adieu, against a backdrop of trees, chirping birds, blue sky and in front of a Center Valley sunset splashed with pink and orange. The real quarter-moon rises in the west after Puck’s epilogue and the actors have taken their bows.

As twilight settles in, lighting bugs flicker forth, the very fairies of the night, further illuminating this fanciful tale that vanishes as a dream.

Tickets: www.pashakespeare.org; 610-282-WILL (9455)