A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

Adapted from ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ by William Shakespeare

Directed and Choreography by Darren McIntyre – Music by Felix Mendelssohn

ACT ONE

The First Act takes place in an enchanted forest. Oberon and Titania, King and Queen of the Fairies, quarrel over a changeling child they both want at their courts. When Titania leaves to head to retire for the night she takes the changeling child with her. Oberon then orders Puck to bring the flower pierced by Cupid’s arrow, which causes anyone coming under its influence to fall in love with the first person the eyes behold, in the hope to make Titania’s love for him indefinite so that they may share the changeling child.

Meanwhile, Helena and Demetrius, who’s relationship has been troubled are wandering in the forest. Helena loves Demetrius but he rejects her and goes on his way leaving her distraught. Oberon watches their quarrel and tells Puck to use the flower on Demetrius that he may return Helena’s affection.

Another couple, Hermia and Lysander, very much in love, are also wandering in the forest. They become separated. Puck, eager to carry out Oberon’s orders, mistakenly anoints Lysander. Helena appears, and Lysander, under the flower’s spell, at once and to her amazement tells her how much he loves her.

Hermia now returns. She is astonished and then dismayed to see Lysander paying attention only to Helena. Puck manages to bring Demetrius, too, under the flower’s spell, much to the delight of Helena, who doesn’t care for Lysander at all. Demetrius and Lysander, now both in love with Helena, begin to quarrel over her.

Puck realizes his mistake and flees the scene keeping the knowledge of his error from Oberon.

Oberon and Puck begin looking for Titania with the hope to use the flowers power to renew Titania and Oberon’s love. Puck summons the pixies to help find Titania but the Sprite Fairies determined to keep Tatiana’s where abouts a secret, send Oberon and Puck on a wild goose chase throughout the forest. The Pixies, having learned through the whispers of the forest share with Puck her whereabouts and he begins to scheme up a mischievous plot. The Sprite Faries then awake Titania from her sleep to dance the nights lullaby before settling in for the evening.

Puck having come across a group of Rustics who are heading home after a day at work, separates their leader, Nick Bottom, from his companions. He transforms Nick’s head into that of a donkey, which frightens the Rustic group and they flee in confusion. Puck laughingly decides to play a joke on Titania and places the donkey at her sleeping feet and uses the flower on her. Awakening, Titania sees the Donkey, thinks him fair, and pays him close and loving attention. The Sprite Fairies hear whispers through the Forest that their Fairy Queen is in love and to their surprise they see her dancing and in love with the Donkey.

ACT 2

Oberon, having heard the whispers of Titania’s new found love comes across Puck and immediately asks him what has he done? Helena runs frantically into their presence with Lysander and Demetrius in hot pursuit with their swords at arms. Oberon immediately realizes what Puck has mistakenly done!

During the fight, Helena tells Lysander that she is not in love with him and he throws down his sword to beg her to love him. Demetrius pushes him out of the way and proposes to Helena and she accepts and they run away. Lysander in despair prepares to pursuit but Oberon uses the flower on him as he sees Hermia enter the scene and stumbling across Lysander’s sword. Their eyes meet at last and to Hermia’s surprise, Lysander proposes and she accepts and they head off to the palace to be wed straight away.

The Rustics enter the forest seeking to find their humble leader, Nick Bottom. They come across the Donkey and chase him around and tease him until to their surprise he transforms into their beloved Nick. With Joy, they follow him off into the distance, merrily on their way.

Titania, seeking her new love, comes across Puck and asks him if he has seen her Donkey. Oberon who witnesses this realizes what Puck has done, He immediately uses the flower to renew their love and as they look into each other’s eyes the spell is broken and changed, and Titania finds love in her heart once again for Oberon.

Their Fairy Courts appears and they are happy to see that all in the forest is restored. Puck, having come across a group of orphaned Changeling Children, announces his find and the Fairies kingdoms prepare to welcome them.

Meanwhile at the Castles palace Hermia, Lysander, Helena and Demetrius celebrate with their joint wedding. The Festivities are wonderful and they live happily ever after.

Titania and Oberon, immersed with renewed love for one another dance as the stars begin to light up the sky. Their fairy courts arrive and as they all dance with anticipation at the coming transformation of the Changeling Children, Puck, feeling bad for what he did, destroys the flower by throwing it into the water hole so it can never be used again.

Gathering up all the Changeling Children, everyone in the Fairy kingdom arrives for the ceremony and the orphaned Changeling Children are transformed into Fairies which brings our tale to an end.