Y Bont Faen Primary. A Midsummer Night s Dream. June 2018

Transcription

1 2018 Y Bont Faen Primary A Midsummer Night s Dream June

2 Character Text and stage directions LX/SX/Notes Act I, scene I LX - Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, DEMETRIUS, HELENA, LYSANDER, PHILOSTRATE, COURTIERS, MECHANICALS and PUCK. (actors reach stage positions and freeze) SX - THESEUS Come now, what revels are in hand? LX - Puck weaves amongst a frozen assemble. Music cuts on Puck s clap HIPPOLYTA THESEUS PHILOSTRATE THESEUS PHILOSTRATE THESEUS PHILOSTRATE THESEUS PHILOSTRATE THESEUS Is there no play, to ease the anguish of a torturing hour? Call Philostrate. (bows) Here, mighty Theseus. Say, what abridgement have you for this evening? (reluctantly hands over a scroll) There is a brief. A tedious, brief scene of young Pyramus and his love Thisbe; very tragical mirth Merry and tragical? Tedious and brief? A play there is, my lord, some ten words long. Which is a brief as I have known a play. And by ten words, my Lord, it is too long, which makes it tedious. What are they that do the play? (indicates towards Mechanicals, they elaborately wave back) Hard-handed men that work in Athens here. We will hear it. 2

3 PHILOSTRATE THESEUS No, my noble Lord, It is not for you. I have heard it over (interrupting) I will hear that play! (actors freeze) FX Track 2 (thunder clap after Theseus speaks) 3

4 Character Text and stage directions LX/SX/Notes Act I, scene II LX - Warm wash Enter NARRATORS STORY TELLER 1 STORY TELLER 1 STORY TELLER 1 STORY TELLER 1 (actors still frozen) (running, holding up hands) Hang on a minute, we are not quite ready; because our play started four days ago. Then, these three couples weren t married and these workmen hadn t even started to rehearse their play. We are in Athens where Theseus is King. He will soon be marrying his beautiful bride - Hippolyta. But how these two couples (indicate Hermia and Lysander and Helena and Demetrius) came to be married is our play. Characters disperse, leaving THESEUS and HIPPOLYTA who begin moving STORY TELLER 2 NARRATOR 2 Four days ago, Theseus and Hippolyta were looking forward to their wedding. While out walking they met Egeus, Hermia s father, who was very worried. The law in Athens states that a father decides who his daughter should marry. If she disagrees with his choice, she has two options: Death or to become a nun. Enter EGEUS and his daughter, LYSANDER and DEMETRIUS THESEUS Good Egeus: what s the news with thee? 4

5 EGEUS HIPPOLYTA THESEUS THESEUS DEMETRIUS LYSANDER THESEUS Full of vexation am I, with complaint against my child, my daughter Hermia. Stand forth Demetrius. (DEMETRIUS stands forward and bows) My noble Lord, this man hath consent to marry her. Stand forth Lysander; (LYSANDER stands forward) and, my gracious Duke, this man hath bewitched the bosom of my child. With cunning hast thou filched my daughter s heart. Turned her obedience, which is due to me, to stubborn harshness. What say you Hermia? Be advised fair maid: Demetrius is a worthy gentleman. So is Lysander. In himself he is. But in this kind, wanting your father s voice. The other must be held worthier I would my father look d but with my eyes. Rather your eyes must with his judgement look. Lysander, yield thy crazed title to my certain right. I am, my Lord, as well derived as he; My love is more than his, and I am belov d of beauteous Hermia. Demetrius made love to Helena And she dotes on him. I must confess I have heard so much. Take time to pause, fair Hermia Until the next new moon, The sealing day betwixt my love and me. Demetrius, Egeus come. You shall go with me. Exit all except LYSANDER and Hermia. 5

6 Character Text and stage directions LX/SX/Notes Act I, scene III LYSANDER STORY TELLER 1 STORY TELLER 2 (Hermia sinks to her knees) Ay me! The course of true love never did run smooth. (Lysander sinks to Hermia s level and informs her of his plan) But Lysander, has a plan. He has a rich Aunt who lives twenty miles away where the laws of Athens do not apply. Hermia and Lysander will be safe there. Lysander persuades Hermia to sneak out of her house tomorrow night and meet him in the woods. From there, they can escape and marry without her father s permission. However, as soon as they have reach this decision - Helena turns up. LX - centre spot light for Hermia and Lysander Enter HELENA LX - HELENA HELENA HELENA God speed, fair Helena! Call you me fair? Demetrius loves you fair. O teach me how you look and with what art You sway the motion of Demetrius heart! I frown upon him, yet he loves me still. O that your frowns would teach my smiles such skill! I give him curses, yet he gives me love. O, that prayers could such affection move! The more I hate, the more he follows me. 6

7 HELENA HELENA LYSANDER LYSANDER HELENA The more I love, the more he hateth me. His folly, Helena, is no fault of mine. None, but your beauty: would fault were mine. Take comfort: he no more shall see my face; Lysander and myself will fly this place. At a time that lovers flights doth still conceal. Through Athens gates we have devised to steal. And in the wood, the dawn of our retreat, There my Lysander and myself shall meet. We will, my Hermia. Exit Helena, adieu. As you on him, Demetrius dotes on you. Exit LYSANDER I ll tell Demetrius of Hermia s flight. Then to the wood will he tomorrow night pursue her. And for this intelligence if I have thanks, it is a dear expense. Exit LX - centre spot light on Helena Lights fade out as Helena exits 7

8 Character Text and stage directions LX/SX/Notes Act II, scene I LX - Green wash Enter, SNUG,, FLUTE, SNOUT and STARVELING. Is all our company here? (producing a scroll) You were best to call them generally, man by man, according to the script. Here is the scroll of every man s name, which is thought fit through all Athens to play in our interlude before the Duke and Duchess on his wedding day at night. First, good Peter Quince, say what the play treats on, then read the names of the actors. Marry, our play is The most lamentable comedy, and most cruel death of Pyramus and Thisbe. A very good piece of work, I assure you, and a merry. Now, good Peter Quince, call forth your actors by the scroll. (elaborately gestures) Masters, spread yourself. Answer as I call you. Nick Bottom, the weaver. Ready. Name what part I am for, and proceed. You, Nick Bottom, are set down for Pyramus. What is Pyramus? A lover, or a tyrant? A lover, that kills himself most gallant for love. That will ask some tears in the true 8

9 performing of it. Now name the rest of the players. FLUTE FLUTE FLUTE STRAVELING SNOUT Francis Flute, the bellows- mender. Here, Peter Quince. You must take Thisbe on you. What is Thisbe? (snatching stick from STRAVELING) A wandering knight? It is the lady that Pyramus must love. Nay, faith, let me not play a woman: I have a beard coming. That s all one. You shall play it in a mask, and you may speak as small as you will. An I may hide my face, (pushing forward) let me play Thisbe too, I ll speak in a monstrous little voice Thisne, Thisne! Ah Pyramus, lover dear! Thy Thisbe dear, and Lady dear! No, no; you must play Pryamus And, Flute, you Thisbe. Well, proceed. Robin Straveling, the tailor. Here, Peter Quince. Robin Straveling, you must play Thisbe s mother. Tom Snout, the tinker. Here, Peter Quince. You, Pyramus father: myself, Thisbe s father: Snug the joiner? You the lion s part: and I hope there is a part fitted. 9

10 SNUG Have you the lion s part written? Pray you, if it be, give it me, for I am slow of study. You may do it extempore, for it is nothing but roaring. Let me play, the lion too: (pushing forward again) I will roar, that I will do any man s heart good to hear me; I will roar, that I will make the Duke say let him roar again, let him roar again. You can play no part but Pyramus; for Pyramus is a sweet-faced man, as one shall see in a summer s day; a most lovely gentleman-like man: therefore you must needs play Pyramus. Well, I will undertake it. What beard were I best to play it in? Why, what you will. But, master, here are your parts: (handing out scrolls) and I entreat you, request you and desire you, to con them by to-morrow night; and meet in the palace wood, a mile without the town, by moonlight. There we will rehearse. I pray you, fail me not. We will meet; and there we may rehearse most obscenely and courageously. Take pains; be perfect. Adieu! Exeunt Lights fade out as actors exit 10

11 Character Text and stage directions LX/SX/Notes Act II, scene II Enter FAIRY NARRATORS, OBERON, PUCK, TITANIA and her FAIRIES. (fairies moving cautiously high and low, checking whether they are alone) LX - Green wash SX STORY TELLER 3 STORY TELLER 3 OBERON TITANIA OBERON TITANIA OBERON TITANIA STORY TELLER 2 As you can see, the wood is becoming very crowded, what with Hermia and Lysander planning to meet there and the workers planning to rehearse there. But what they don t know is that the wood is already the home to another group of creatures fairies. But Oberon, King of the Fairies, is angry with Queen Titania. They both want the same changeling child to be their servant. (standing with their fairies opposite each other) Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania. What, jealous Oberon? Why should Titania cross her Oberon? I do but beg a little changeling boy be my henchman. Set you heart at rest. I will not part with him. Give me that boy. Not for thy fairy kingdom. Fairies, away! Exit TITANIA and her FAIRIES Oberon hates to be tricked, so he calls for Robin Goodfellow, a mischievous sprite also named Puck. He orders Puck to fetch a magical flower. 11

12 PUCK exits STORY TELLER 1 STORY TELLER 1 DEMETRIUS HELENA DEMETRIUS HELENA OBERON STORY TELLER 1 STORY TELLER 2 When the juice of this magical flower is squeezed onto Titania s sleeping eyelids, she will fall in love with the first creature she looks at. Oberon then intends to convince his fairy queen to hand over the changeling boy. But his evil thoughts are interrupted by Demetrius and Helena. Oberon decides to make himself invisible. I love thee not, therefore pursue me not. I tell you I do not, nor I cannot, love you? And even for that do I love you the more. I am sick when I do look on thee. Exit DEMETRIUS And I am sick when I look not on you. You do me mischief. Fie Demetrius! We cannot fight for love, as men may do: We should be wooed and were not made to woo. I ll follow thee and make a heaven of hell, to die upon the hand I love so well. Exit HELENA Fare thee well, nymph. Ere he do leave this grove, thou shalt fly him and he shall seek thy love. Enter PUCK Puck returns with the magical flower and Oberon takes some to squeeze onto the Titania s eyelids. But what he has just witnessed gives him a much better idea. Oberon thinks it would be much more interesting to use the magic to make Demetrius fall in love Helena. 12

13 OBERON PUCK TITANIA FAIRY OBERON (giving some of the flower to Puck) Take thou some of it and seek through this grove. A sweet Athenian lady is in love with a disdainful youth. Anoint his eyes. But do it when the next thing he espies may be the lady. Fear not, my Lord, your servant shall do so. They exit, separately Enter TITANIA with her FAIRIES Come, sing me now asleep. Then to your offices and let me rest. (the fairies song) Hence, away! Now all is well: One aloof stand sentinel. Exit FAIRIES (except for a lone fairy who sleeps alongside Titania) (enter OBERON who squeezes the flower juice onto TITANIA S eyelids) What thou seest when thou dost wake, Do it for they true love take. Love and languish for his sake: Be it ounce or cat or bear, Pard, or boar with bristled hair, In thy eye that shall appear, When thou wakest, it is they dear. Wake when some vile thing is near. Exit OBERON Titania and her fairy sleep upstage, far right SX - Track 4 Lights fade as Oberon exits 13

14 Character Text and stage directions LX/SX/Notes Act II, scene III LX - Warm wash STORY TELLER 1 Enter ATHENIAN NARRATORS, LYSANDER and Titania isn t the only one who is shattered. Lysander is completely lost in the forest and he and Hermia are exhausted. So they decide to sleep until morning. Not together, of course, but separately. (LYSANDER and prepare to sleep in the woods) LYSANDER LYSANDER LYSANDER STORY TELLER 2 But to speak troth, I have forgot our way. Let s tarry for the comfort of the day. One turf shall serve as a pillow for us both. One heart, one bed, two bosoms, and one troth. Nay good Lysander. For my sake, my dear lie further off yet. Do not lie so near. (LYSANDER hesitates) Please by our side no bed room me deny. For, lying so, Hermia, I do not lie. But, gentle friend, for love courtesy lie further off in human modesty. (LYSANDER moves away) Here is my bed. Sleep give thee all his rest! With half that wish the wisher s eyes be pressed. Puck comes in search of Demetrius so that he can use the magical flower to make him fall in love with Helena. However, he mistakes Lysander for Demetrius, and he is already in love with Hermia. Enter PUCK, searching for 14

15 PUCK HELENA DEMETRIUS HELENA LYSANDER HELENA LYSANDER Demetrius (PUCK sees LYSANDER) This is he, my master said. Despised the Athenian maid. (PUCK indicates. Then PUCK squeezes the flower juice on LYSANDER s eyelids) Churl, upon thy eyes I throw All the power this charm doth owe. Exit PUCK Enter DEMETRIUS and HELENA Stay! Do not haunt me thus! Exit DEMETRIUS But who is here? (noticing LYSANDER, but not ) Lysander on the ground! Dead or asleep? I see no blood, no wound. Lysander, if you live, good sir, awake! (waking and falling instantly in love with HELENA) And run through fire I will for thy sweet sake! Not Hermia, but Helena I love: Who will not change a raven for a dove. Good troth, you do me wrong, good soothe, you do, in such disdainful manner me to woo. Fare you well. Exit HELENA She sees not Hermia. Hermia, sleep thou there; And never mayst this come Lysander near! And, all my powers, address your love and might to honour Helen, and be her knight. Exit LYSANDER ( wakes from a nightmare) Help me, Lysander, help me! (she notices LYSANDER has gone) What, out of hearing? Gone? No sound, no word? No? Then I well SX - Track 5 (as Puck squeezes the juice on Lysander s eyelids) Lights fade as Hermia exits 15

16 perceive you are not nigh. Either death or you I ll find immediately. Exit 16

17 Character Text and stage directions LX/SX/Notes Act II, scene IV LX - Green wash Enter, SNUG,, FLUTE, SNOUT and STARVELING NARRATOR 2 FLUTE Are we well met? Pat, pat; and here s a marvellous convenient place for our rehearsal. Come sit down, every mother s son, and rehearse your parts. Enter PUCK, moving around unseen by the actors as they arrange themselves. As the workers arrange themselves, Puck arrives. He soon finds a chance to make mischief. (PUCK finds a seat in the audience to watch events unfold) Pyramus, you begin; when you have spoken your speech, enter into that brake: and so everyone according to cue. Speak, Pyramus. Thisbe, stand forth. (as Pryamus) Thisbe, the flowers of odious savours sweet. Odours, odours! Odours savours sweet. So hath they breath, my dearest Thisbe dear. But hark, a voice! Stay thou here awhile, and by and by I will to thee appear. ( pretends he has heard something and goes off in search. PUCK leaves the audience to follow him) Must I speak now? Ay, marry, must you; for you must 17

18 understand he goes but to see a noise that he heard, and is to come again. FLUTE FLUTE (as Thisbe) Most radiant Pyramus, red rose on triumphant briar. As truest horse, that yet would never tire. I ll meet thee, Pyramus, at Ninny s tomb. Ninus s tomb, man! You speak all your part at once, cues and all. Pyramus! Your cue is never tire. O, as truest horse, that yet would never tire. Re-enter wearing an ass s head PUCK follows If I were fair, Thisbe, I were only thine. O monstrous! O strange! We are haunted. Pray, masters! Fly, masters! Help! Exit, SNUG, SNOUT, FLUTE and STRAVELING Why do they run away? Re-enter Bless thee Bottom, bless thee! Thou are translated! Exit I see there knavery: this is to make an ass of me, to fright me, if they could; but I will not stir from this place, do what they can: I will walk up and down here and I will sing, that they shall hear I am not afraid. (singing and dancing with PUCK following s moves) The ousel cock, so black of hue, With orange- tawny bill. (TITANIA wakes and sees with his ass s head) 18

19 TITANIA TITIANIA TITANIA PEASEBLOSSOM, TITANIA (looking back and forth to audience and ) What angel wakes me from my flowery bed? (still singing. PUCK hides not wanting to be seen) The throstle with his note so true, The wren with little quill (interrupting) I pray thee gentle mortal sing again. Mine ear is much enamour d of thy note; so is mine eye enthralled to thy shape. And thy fair virtue s force perform doth move me so. On the first view, to say, to swear, I love thee. Methinks, mistress, you should have little reason for that: and yet, to say the truth, reason and love keep little company together nowadays. Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful. I ll give thee fairies to attend in thee. (calling) Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth and Mustardseed! Enter four fairies: PEASEBLOSSOM, COBWEB, MOTH and MUSTARDSEED Hail! Hail mortal? Come, wait upon him, lead him to my bower. Tie up my love s tongue, bring him silently. Exit all Lights fade as actors exit 19

20 Character Text and stage directions LX/SX/Notes Act III scene I LX - Green wash Enter FAIRY NARRATORS and OBERON STORY TELLER 1 STORY TELLER 2 PUCK OBERON PUCK STORY TELLER 1 OBERON PUCK Oberon grows impatient; waiting in another part of the wood. Enter PUCK Puck arrives and tells Oberon how he stumbled upon a group of actors in the forest, who seemed to be rehearsing for a play. He goes on tell Oberon, how he played the most mischievous trick on a man called Bottom by giving him an ass s head. So it came to pass. Titania waked and straightway loved an ass. This falls out better than I could devise. But hast thou yet latched the Athenian s eyes with the love juice, as I did bid thee do? I took him sleeping that is finished too. And the Athenian woman by his side, that, when he waked, of force must be eyed. Puck believes he has granted his Oberon s wishes and made Demetrius fall in love with Helena. Although we know different. Enter DEMETRIUS and causing OBERON and PUCK to become tree like Stand close: this is the same Athenian. This is the woman, but not this the man. Have you slain him then? Henceforth be never numbered among LX - Warm wash 20

21 DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS men! You spend your passion on a mispriced mood. I am not guilty of Lysander s blood nor is he dead, for aught that I can tell. I pray thee, tell me then that he is well. And if I could, what should I get therefore? A privilege never to see me more. Exit There is no following her in this vein. Here therefore for a while I will remain. (DEMETRIUS lies down to sleep in front of the tree ) OBERON (to PUCK) What hast thou done? LX Green wash NARRATOR 1 NARRATOR 2 DEMETRIUS LYSANDER It s obvious to Oberon that Puck has made a mistake. The wrong man is now in love with poor Hermia. He sends Puck to find Helena as soon as possible. Exit PUCK Oberon decides to drop use the magical flower on Demetrius. He will then make sure that Helena is the first person he gazes upon when he wakes. (OBERON puts flower juice onto DEMETRIUS s eyelids) (PUCK walks onto the stage and claps HELENA then enters, soon to be followed by LYSANDER. DEMETRIUS wakes and falls instantly in love with HELENA) O Helen, goddess, nymph perfect divine. To what my love, shall I compare thine eyes? Fair Helen, my love, my life, my soul, fair Helena. SX track 6 (as Oberon puts juice on Demetrius s eyelids) LX Warm wash 21

22 HELENA HELENA HELENA HELENA O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent to set against me for you merriment. Can you not hate me, as I know you do, but you join in souls to mock me too? Lysander speaks not as he thinks; it cannot be. (noticing ) Lo, she is one of this confed racy! Now, I perceive they have conjoined all three to fashion this false sport in spite of me. Injurious Hermia, most ungrateful maid. Have you conspired, have you contrived to bait me with this foul derision? I am amazed at your passionate words. I scorn you not; it seems that you scorn me. Have you not set Lysander, as in scorn, to follow me and praise my eyes and my face? And made you other love, Demetrius, who even but now did spurn me with his foot, to call me goddess, nymph, divine and rare, precious, celestial? I understand not what you mean by this how can Lysander now love you and hateth me? (she pauses a few seconds and her anger slowly grows) O me! You juggler, you canker-blossom, you thief of love! What have you come at night and stolen my love s heart from him? Fie, fie, you counterfeit, you puppet, you! Puppet? Why so? Ay that way goes the game. Her height. Forsooth, she hath prevailed with him. And are grown so high in esteem because I am so dwarfish and so low? (very angry) How low am I, thou painted maypole? Speak! How low am I? I am not yet so 22

23 low but that my nails can reach unto thine eyes. HELENA HELENA LYSANDER DEMETRIUS (HELENA turns to LYSANDER and DEMETRIUS for help) I pray you, though you mock me, gentlemen, let her not hurt me. You perhaps may think, because she is something lower than myself, that I can match her. Lower? Hark again. O, when she is angry, she is keen and shrewd. She was a vixen when she went to school, and though she is little, she is fierce. Little again? Nothing but low and little. Why will you suffer her to flout me thus? Let me come to her! ( attacks HELENA, but LYSANDER intervenes) Get gone, you dwarf, you minimus of hindring knot-grass made! You bead, you acorn. ( is thrown to the floor, but her anger propels her to chase HELENA off the stage) Now she hold me not; Now follow, if you dar st, to try whose right, of thine or mine, is most in Helena. Follow? Nay, I ll go with thee cheek by jowl. Exit DEMETRIUS and LYSANDER separately Lights fade as Demetrius and Lysander exit 23

24 Character Text and stage directions LX/SX/Notes Act III scene II LX Green wash Enter NARRATORS, OBERON and PUCK STORY TELLER 1 STORY TELLER 2 STORY TELLER 1 PUCK TITANIA Oberon is not pleased with Puck s mischief- making. It has caused everyone to start arguing and there is total chaos. He orders Puck to tire everyone out and gives him some different magic, especially matched for Lysander. And whilst Puck is busy he will persuade Titania to give him the changeling boy. Exit OBERON (PUCK enters with, HELENA, DEMETRIUS and LYSANDER in a trance. He magically moves them around the wood) Up and down, up and down I will lead you up and down I am feared in field and town Goblin, lead them up and down. (once they are asleep PUCK squeezes more flower magic on LYSANDER s eyelids) (PUCK moves upstage) On the ground sleep sound. I ll apply to your eye, gentle lover, remedy. When though wak st, thou tak st true delight in the sight of thy former lady s eye, The man shall have his mare again, and all shall be well. Enter TITANIA and with the FAIRIES attending, and OBERON, behind, unseen LX SX Track 7 (to begin as soon as Puck begins moving the 4 lovers) LX Green wash 24

25 Come, sit thee down upon this flowery bed, while I thy amiable cheeks do coy, and stick musk-roses in they sleek smooth head, And kiss they fair large ears, my gentle joy. TITANIA TITANIA STORY TELLER 1 OBERON TITANIA OBERON I must to the barber s, for methinks I am marvellous hairy about the face. And I am such a tender donkey, if my hair do but tickle me, I must scratch. Say, sweet love, what thou desirest to eat? I could munch your good dry oats. Methinks I have great desire to a bottle of hay. Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms. Fairies, be gone, and be all ways away. Exuent FAIRIES O, how I love thee! How I dote on thee! (they both fall asleep) Enter PUCK When Puck arrives, Oberon tells him that Titania has willingly given him the changeling boy. And now I have the boy, I will undo this hateful imperfection of her eyes. (OBERON touches TITANIA s eyelids with the antidote. She wakes and rises) My Oberon! Methought I was enamoured of an ass. (indicating ) There lies your love. Titania and Bottom fall asleep upstage, right SX Track 8 (as Oberon moves towards Titania) TITANIA How came these things to pass? O, how mine eyes do loathe his visage now! OBERON PUCK Silence awhile. Puck take off his head. (to, removing the ass s 25

26 head) Now, when thou wak st, with thine own fool s eyes peep. Exuent OBERON, TITANIA and PUCK, leaving the four lovers and still asleep STORY TELLER 2 STORY TELLER 1 Enter NARRATORS The next day is Theseus and Hippolytas s wedding day. It is also the day Hermia has to decide who she should marry. Early in the morning Theseus and Hippolyta are out hunting with Egeus, Hermia s father. 26

27 Character Text and stage directions LX/SX/Notes Act III scene III LX Warm wash Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, EGEUS and attendants. THESEUS EGEUS THESEUS But, soft! What nymphs are these? My Lord, this is my daughter here asleep. And this, Lysander: this Demetrius is - this is Helena. I wonder of their being here together Go bid the huntsmen wake them with their horns. The LOVERS awake Good morrow, friends. SX French horn LYSANDER THESEUS LYSANDER EGEUS DEMETRIUS (confused, but lovers scramble to their feet and bow) Pardon, my lord. I pray you all, stand up. I know you two are rival enemies. How comes this gentle concord in the world? (due the antidote LYSANDER has forgotten everything) My lord, I cannot truly say how I came here. I came with Hermia hither: our intent was to be gone from Athens. (interrupting) I beg the law, the law, upon his head They would have stolen away, they would, Demetrius, thereby to have defeated you and me: You of your wife and me of my consent, of my consent that she should be your wife. My Lord, the object and pleasure of mine eye, is only Helena. To her, my lord was I betrothed ere I saw Hermia. But like sickness did I loathe this food. But, as in health, come to my natural 27

28 taste. Now I do wish it, love it, long for it, and will for evermore be true to it. THESEUS Fair lovers, you are fortunately met; Egeus, I will overbear you will, These couple shall eternally be knit. Away with us to Athen; three and three, We ll hold a feast in great solemnity. Come Hippolyta. Exeunt all but, still asleep (snoring as they leave, DEMETRIUS glances over his shoulder) Fade lights as Demetrius looks over his shoulder 28

29 Character Text and stage directions LX/SX/Notes Act IV, scene I ( wakes still believing he s rehearsing for the play) LX Warm wash STORY TELLER 1 When my cue comes, call me, and I will answer. God s my life! I have had a most rare vision. Methought I was and methought I had but man is but a patched fool if he will offer to say what methought I had. I will get Peter Quince to write a ballad of this dream; it shall be called Bottom s Dream, because it hath no bottom. Exit A little later, back in Athens the play, within our play, is about to begin. Enter, FLUTE, SNOUT and STARVELING Have you sent to Bottom s house? Is he home yet? LX Green wash STRAVELING SNUG FLUTE He cannot be heard of. Out of doubt he is transported. Enter SNUG Masters the Duke is coming from the temple, and there is two or three lords and ladies to be married. If our sport had gone forward, we had all been made men. O sweet bully Bottom! If he come not, then the play goes not forward. (the actors search for ) Enter Where are these lads? Bottom! O most courageous day! O SX Track 9 LX Lights flash (if possible) LX Green wash 29

30 most happy hour! Masters, the Duke hath dined, Dear actors, eat no onions nor garlic for was are to utter sweet breath our play is preferred. No more words: away! Go, away! Exit all Fade all lights 30

31 Character Text and stage directions LX/SX/Notes Act IV, scene II LX Warm wash Enter NARRATOR STORY TELLER 1 STORY TELLER 2 And this is how three couples, and not just one, came to be married that day and entertained that evening. This stage is set as at the beginning as THESEUS and HIPPOLYTA, LYSANDER, DEMETRIUS and HELENA, with PHILOSTRATE THESEUS (actors reach positions and freeze) And for those of you with a good memory, which looking at you, is extremely doubtful, this is where our play began. (to PHILOSTRATE) I will hear that play. Go bring them in. Exit PHILOSTRATE THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, DEMETRIUS, and HELENA move to upstage left to watch the play Enter If we offend, it is with our good will. That you should think, we come not to offend, but with good will. To show our simple skill, that is the true beginning of our end. Consider then, we come but in despite. We do not come as minding to content you, our true intent is. All for your delight we are not here. That you should here repent you, the actors are at hand and by their show, you shall know all that you are like to know. Exit, quickly returning with SX Track 10 LX Centre spot 31

32 SNOUT, as wall. SNOUT SNOUT In this same interlude it doth befall that I, one Snout by name, present a wall. And such a wall, as I would have you think, that had in it a crannied hole or chink, through which the lovers (forgetting names) (stage whisper) Pyramus and Thisbe. Pyramus and Thisbe Did whisper often, very secretly. This loam, this rough-cast and this stone doth show that I am that same wall; the truth is so. And this cranny is, right and sinister, through which the fearful lovers are to whisper. Enter, as Pyramus THESEUS Pryamus draw near the wall; silence. LX Warm wash FLUTE FLUTE FLUTE O this, O wall, O sweet, O lovely wall, Show me thy chink, to blink through with mine eye. (SNOUT reveals a chink in the wall) Thanks courteous wall. But what see I? No Thisbe do I see. Cursed Be the stones for thus deceiving me! Enter FLUTE, as Thisbe O wall, full often hast thou heard my moans, my cherry lips have often kissed thy stones. I see a voice; I can hear my Thisbe s face. Thisbe! My love! Thou art my love, I think. Wilt thou at Ninny s tomb meet me straightaway? Come without delay. Exeunt, FLUTE and SNOUT. 32

33 Enter SNUG as lion and STARVELING and moonshine Re-enter FLUTE, as Thisbe FLUTE SNUG This is old Ninny s tomb. Where is my love? (a pathetic roar) Raaaa. FLUTE runs off dropping her cloak. SNUG attacks the cloak then exits. Enter as Pyramus HIPPOLYTA FLUTE (to STARVELING) Sweet moon, I thank thee for thy sunny beams. (notices Thisbe s torn cloak) What dreadful dole is here? Eyes, do you see? How can it be? O dainty duck! O dear! Thy mantle good, What! Stained with blood? I pity the man. (drawing his sword and stabbing himself) Thus die I, thus, thus, thus! Now am I dead, Now am I fled; My soul is in the sky. Tongue, lose thy light, Moon take thy flight Exit STARVELING Now die, die, die, die, die. Enter FLUTE, as Thisbe Asleep, my love? What, dead, my dove? O Pyramus arise! (picking up his sword) Farewell, friends; Thus Thisbe ends: (she stabs herself and dies) 33

34 THESEUS DEMETRIUS HIPPOLYTA Moonshine and Lion are left to bury the dead. Ay, and wall too. (leaping up from his death bed and coming out of character) No, I assure you, the wall is down. Will it please you to see the epilogue? No epilogue, I pray you. Lovers, to bed, tis almost fairy time. Sweet friends to bed. Exuent all Lights fade as actors leave 34

35 Character Text and stage directions LX/SX/Notes Act IV, scene III LX Green wash Enter PUCK with a sweeping brush. Enter OBERON and TITANIA and the FAIRIES, also with brooms OBERON Now until the break of day, through this house each fairy stray. To the best bride-bed will we. Which by us shall blessed be. And the issue there create ever shall be fortunate. (indicating TITANIA will go with him) Trip away, make not stay; Meet me all by break of day. PUCK Exuent all but PUCK (to the audience) If we shadows have offended, think but this, and all is mended, that you have but slumbered here, while these visions did appear, and this weak and idle theme, no more yielding but a dream, So, good night unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends, and Robin shall restore amends. (he sweeps his way off stage) THE END LX lights fade, centre spot (on Puck) SX Track 11 (quietly than increase volume after Puck has finished his monologue) The cast will return to stage and bow 35