1999 SEASON    

A Midsummer Night's Dream
August 12-24, 1999

Theseus, Duke of Athens, arranging to celebrate his marriage with Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, whom he has recently defeated in battle, is interrupted by Egeus, who complains that Lysander has bewitched into love his daughter, Hermia. When Egeus wishes her to marry another suitor, Demetrius. Theseus warns Hermia that unless she complies with her father's wishes, she must either die or become a nun. In desperation, Hermia agrees to elope with Lysander, meeting the next night in a nearby wood. They disclose their plans to Helena (Hermia's childhood friend), who is herself in love with Demetrius, who, in turn, loves Hermia. To win Demetrius' favour, Helena tells him of the lovers' plans. Elsewhere a group of workmen, Quince (Carpenter), Nick Bottom (Weaver), Flute (Bellows Mender), Snout (Tinker), Snug (Joiner) and Robin Starveling (Tailor), gather to prepare a play to present at Theseus' wedding feast.

In the wood, Puck (Oberon's right-hand sprite) and another fairy tell of the quarrel between Oberon, the King of the Fairies, and his Queen, Titania, over a changeling boy. When Titania leaves Oberon, still refusing to give him the boy, Oberon decides to have his revenge by casting a spell on Titania that will force her to fall in love with the first creature she sees. He orders Puck to fetch a flower which contains the magic juice to do the trick on Titania. While waiting for Puck, Oberon watches Helena plead with Demetrius (who has followed Hermia to the wood) for his love. Puck, returning with the flower, is told by Oberon to squeeze it on the lids of Demetrius, so he will love Helena. Oberon himself will anoint Titania's eyelids. Puck anoints in error the eyes of Lysander whom he finds with Hermia. Helena and Demetrius arrive, waking Lysander, who instantly falls in love with Helena.

Meanwhile, the workmen rehearse their play near where Titania sleeps. When Bottom is 'offstage', Puck adorns him with an ass's head. Bottom's companions, terrified, run away believing him bewitched. As he sits, puzzled, Titania, waking, falls in love with him, ordering her fairies to attend him.

While Titania and Bottom sleep, Oberon, the changeling boy now his attendant, releases Titania from the spell, telling Puck to remove Bottom's ass's head. The fairy quarrel ended, harmony is restored and all set off to bless, in dance and song, Theseus' marriage. Theseus and Hippolyta, out early hunting, rouse the lovers, who, on waking, find that for them, too, harmony is restored. Theseus declares they shall all be married that day. Bottom wakes, and still puzzled by his 'dream', seeks out his fellow actors.

After the wedding ceremony Quince and his group perform their play, quite awkwardly, to the general amusement of all. The happy couples retire, and the fairies dance through the house to bless the bride-beds. Puck, as epilogue, commends to his onlookers this 'midsummer night's dream'.

1999 SEASON