A Midsummer Night's Dream 2009

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Directed by Mark von Eschen, Set and Lighting Design by Stephen Wade, Costume Design by Carla Orosz

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Duke Theseus and Hippolyta are to be married in four days.  Hermia’s father Egeus is furious because she is refusing to marry Demetrius, even though Egeus has betrothed her to him.  Hermia loves Lysander.  The Duke councils her to decide by his wedding day if she will marry Demetrius; if she goes against her father’s wishes she will face the consequences:  death or life as a nun.  Hermia and Lysander secretly plan to meet that night in the forest to elope.  Hermia’s friend Helena is sad and dejected because Demetrius is not in love with her.  When Helena learns of Hermia and Lysander’s plan, she decides to tell Demetrius, believing that sharing the information will win his love and respect.  In scene two, we meet a group of low ranking soldiers (Shakespeare refers to them as “the Mechanicals”) who are putting on a play in honour of the Duke’s wedding.  Their play is the classic love tragedy of Pyramus and Thisby.  Nick Bottom is to play the hero Pyramus (but really he wants to play all the parts.)  The group will rehearse in the forest so that their production is a surprise for Theseus and Hippolyta.  In the forest, we discover that Oberon, King of the Fairies, is quarreling with Titania, Queen of the Fairies.  She has a small human boy that was born to a close friend who died in childbirth.  Theseus wants this “changeling boy” to be his page, but Titania will not give him to Oberon.  Demetrius enters with Helena pursuing him; Oberon sees them, and instructs Puck to charm Demetrius with a magic flower. Under the charm, Demetrius will fall in love with whom he sees first upon waking; Oberon thinks he will see Helena first. Unfortunately, Puck charms Lysander by mistake.  Oberon will use the same charm on Titania to torment her for not giving him the changeling boy.  Oberon hopes that she will wake when some vile thing in near. The Mechanicals meet for rehearsal, which is, coincidentally, beside Titania’s bower. Puck comes across the Mechanicals and decides to play a prank; the results involve Titania.

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