Last performed in 2004
Smart Guide 
| Program
|
Photo Gallery
Synopsis
As the play opens, Theseus plans to marry Hippolyta in four days. Egeus comes to Theseus saying that Hermia, his daughter, is in love with Lysander, but Egeus prefers Demetrius, who also loves her. Since Hermia will not yield, he demands his right by Athenian law: since she is his daughter, he may give her to whom he chooses. Theseus warns Hermia that she must obey her father's wishes or she must die. Hermia says she would rather die than marry Demetrius. Theseus postpones the final decision in this matter for four days. Lysander and Hermia resolve to meet by night and flee to a place beyond the Athenian law. They inform Helena of their plans. Helena, hoping to gain favor with Demetrius, decides to tell him of Lysander and Hermia's plan.
Oberon, King of the fairies, is coming to Athens to bless the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta. Titania, the fairy Queen, is in the woods for the same purpose. When they meet, however, the argument they have been having continues: Oberon wants Titania's changeling child, but she refuses to give up the boy. To achieve his goal, Oberon decides to apply the juice of a love flower to Titania's eyes, causing her to "madly dote" on whatever she first sees when she wakes.
Athenian mechanicals (laborers) come to the forest to rehearse a play intended to be part of the wedding festivities. Although they have problems regarding set, props, and characterization which may "affright the ladies," their biggest problem comes when Puck puts an ass's head on their lead player, Bottom. Left alone, Bottom sings and awakens Titania. She "straightway loves an ass."
Demetrius, pursued by Helena, enters the forest. Oberon, pitying Helena's plight, sends Puck to use the flower's charm on Demetrius's eyes as well. By mistake Puck places the juice on Lysander's eyes, and when Lysander wakes he first sees Helena. Oberon is delighted with the problems created for his wife, but he is not pleased by Puck's mistake. Demetrius's eyes are anointed, and he wakes viewing Helena, which is what was originally intended. Puck is instructed to anoint Lysander's eyes with another flower which will break the spell of the first. Having obtained the child from his wife while she was entertaining Bottom, Oberon uses the antidote flower on Titania. She wakes repulsed by Bottom in his donkey head, and all is at peace in the fairy kingdom.
On a morning hunting trip, Theseus and Hippolyta come to the forest and find the sleeping couples. The couples wake to find the problems of the night before solved, and Theseus, overruling Egeus's will, proclaims a triple wedding.
After Bottom is restored, he returns to his friends, and they learn that their play is to be performed. The play ends with their production of "Pyramus and Thisby" and a fairy visitation.