Scene 1:
In a forest outside Athens, the realm of Oberon
and
Titania, King and Queen of the fairies.
Titania has in her care a small changeling boy whom Oberon wishes to have as a fairy knight. Titania refuses and a furious Oberon comes up with a plan to secure the boy. He calls for Puck, an impish and very mischievous Sprite, and sends him off in search of the magic flower “Heart’s Ease” the juice of which should be sprinkled on the eyes of a sleeping creature. On waking this person will fall in love with the very first creature they see.
Meanwhile four young Athenians have come into the woods. Hermia and Lysander wish to marry but Ergos, Hermia’s father, has decided she will marry Demetrius. Hermia’s best friend Helena is, however, in love with, and was once betrothed to Demetrius! Hermia and Lysander are running away to his aunt and must pass through the forest; they are being pursued by Demetrius who is determined to marry Hermia and he in turn is being chased by a desperate Helena!
Oberon witnesses this situation and wishes to help the poor Helena. Puck finally returns and Oberon gleefully plucks petals from the magic flower returning the rest with orders to Puck to find the man in Athenian dress and anoint his eyes so that he will love Helena. He also arranges with Puck to help him in his trick on Titania.
We find ourselves in Titania’s bower where her fairies sing a lullaby – Titania retires to sleep and the fairies leave. Oberon enters and sprinkles the magic juice on Titania’s eyes.
Shortly after, Hermia and Lysander wander in lost and tired. They fall asleep on the forest floor (under opposite trees!). Puck bounds in and sees the sleeping Lysander; believing him to be the Athenian he was sent to bewitch he sprinkles the magic juice on his eyes and flies away.
At this moment Demetrius appears arguing with Helena. He pushes her away and strides off – she trips over the sleeping Lysander who wakes and is instantly smitten with her. Horrified she tries to escape his embrace and he follows her in hot pursuit. Hermia wakes up to find herself alone – she too runs away in search of Lysander.
Now another set of mortals enters the story – six Artisans from Athens come into the woods to rehearse their play – an entertainment for the wedding of Theseus, King of Athens and his bride Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. Led by Bottom, the weaver, these rustics perform their rough dance during which Puck enters. He distracts Bottom, leading him aside and places an Ass’s head on him. Bottom reappears scaring the rest away and dances in the clearing. Titania awakes and the first thing she sees is Bottom. She falls madly in love with this Ass and calls her (very shocked) fairies to wreath him in flowers. She leads him into her bower!
Meantime the four lovers meet up and a huge quarrel ensues – Oberon witnesses this and realises Puck has made a mistake. He is furious with Puck and summons a huge fog, in which he can sort the couples out and apply an antidote to Lysander’s eyes! Eventually the couples fall asleep – correctly paired and Oberon is free to enjoy his trick on Titania.
He opens her bower and orders Puck to remove the ass head from Bottom. He then wakes Titania and asks her what is going on with this rustic in her bower. Titania is horrified and recalls a dream that she was in love with an ass! Oberon enjoys her discomfort!
Titania sees only one way out of this dilemma and offers the changeling boy to Oberon – who graciously accepts this gift. They leave hand in hand!
Hippolyta appears out hunting the next morning. She is accompanied by her huntresses and beloved hounds. She sees the sleeping couples and summons Theseus. The couples awake and protest their love for each other. Theseus agrees that the couples should marry, and invites them to join his wedding ceremony in Athens.
Puck returns, rudely awakens Bottom who is most confused and remembers his ‘dream” that he had asses ears and was seduced by a gorgeous little fairy!
Scene 2:
The Court in Athens
The Wedding of Hippolyta to Theseus
The citizens of Athens celebrate the triple wedding of the lovers in our story.
Scene 3:
Back in the forest outside Athens.
Meanwhile, Titania and Oberon have made up their differences and are reunited. The fairy world celebrates and Puck has the last word:
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