Script First half

2020

 

Dramatis Personae

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

(Characters will be doubled)

MUSICIANS/MECHANICALS

1.    PUCK a shadow of the night/ PHILOSTRATE master of the revels to Theseus

2.    THESEUS Duke of Athens/ Oberon, King of the Faeries The – see -us

EGEUS father to Hermia/Doubled with one of the Mechanicals    Eh-jh-iyahs

3.    LYSANDER  in love with Hermia. Ly-SAN der

4.    DEMETRIUS in love with Helena De mee tree us

MECHANICALS

5.    QUINCE a carpenter. Kwince

6.    SNUG a joiner.

7.    BOTTOM a weaver.

8.    FLUTE a bellows-mender.

9.    SNOUT a tinker.

.

10. HIPPOLYTA queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus/ Titania, queen of the faeries Hi pol I tah

11. HERMIA daughter to Egeus, in love with Lysander. Her me ah

12. HELENA in love with Demetrius. He le na

FAERIES

13. PEASEBLOSSOM   Peas blos som

14. MUSTARD SEED

15. COBWEB

·         SETTING: NEW ORLEANS & BARATARIA BAYOU  ( in Spanish, Barataria means to deceive).

·         Waxing Crescent.

·         First Quarter - commonly called a "half moon"

·         Waxing Gibbous.

·         Full - we can see the entire illuminated portion of the moon.

JUNE 19-25, 1924

Midsummer – June 19-25, 1924  - a dream in Barataria Bayou (39 miles from New Orleans)		Cyc is brushed with dark blue.  Actors are frozen on stage – faeries Right stage Mechanicals CS – Royalty left stage  FOG onstage.	(Bear – tear-E-ah)
SCENE I: The courtyard of the Duke’s mansion. New Orleans is also known as the “Crescent City”		(Puck is asleep, stretches, looks all around, then spots the audience.  Crosses to DCS and addresses the audience . A spot rises on Puck)	Wind with actors shhh Fog covers stage
PUCK:	We are such stuff As dreams are made on, and our little life Is rounded with a sleep.”	In speaking, he encompasses the stage with his hands in gestures. . (One faery from left stage and one from right stage bring items of clothing) (Faeries take off Puck’s costume. Puck begins putting on a hat and cape while speaking to the audience. Puck is transformed into a mortal, Philostrate).	Puck begins singing “Savez-vous planter les choux”in a minor key – eerily. As he sings, he wakes everyone
	SCENE I New Orleans –SL The mechanicals are bringing in food, men bring in supplies and women bring in flowers, banners, bunting. Hippolyta is daydreaming, staring into the audience. Philostrate oversees the servants’ work. Theseus observes. Theseus spots Hipplolyta from afar UCL, and picks a flower from a serving woman’s basket, smiles at her.  The serving woman curtsies, and he sneaks up behind Hippolyta. He puts the flower in front of her, when she turns, he kisses her	Mechanicals occupations during the twenties: Butler Maid Nurse Rower Chauffeur Factory worker Pilot Bell man Rugby player Flower seller Nun Carpenter  We will choose characters out of these occupations.
THESEUS:	Fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour draws near; bringing a moon, new-bent: but, (Theseus grasps both Hippolyta’s hands) O, how slow this old moon wanes!	During the war between Athens and the Amazons, Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, was taken as a “war-prize.” Theseus saved her life, and in return, Hippolyta is marrying the man almost as a favor.
Theseus’s army overthrew the Amazons – who were such fierce warriors that they burned off their right breasts so that they could fight with a bow and arrow better.  Theirs is a mature love – an acceptance of their places in life.  Theseus is benevolent as in his treatment of the mechanicals.		[In the background, EGEUS and HERMIA, followed by LYSANDER, and DEMETRIUS argue in stage picture center/left stage](Quince is handing out pamphlets for auditions for his entertainment.  Two of the mechanicals look at it, and Bottom, peering over their shoulders, snatches the poster.  It must be big enough to see from the audience. Peasebottom and Mustardseed sneak into the square and steal a looking glass & a goblet from a woman who has her back turned)
HIPPOLYTA:	Four days will quickly lapse; Four nights will quickly dream away the time; And then the moon, like to a silver bow, shall behold our solemnities wedding nuptials.
THESEUS	Go, Philostrate, stir up the youth to merriments.	(Before they can kiss, Egeus interrupts) [DSR approaches Theseus angrily, while ordering his daughter and the young men to step lively. Egeus bows before speaking.]
EGEUS	Happy be Theseus, our renowne’d duke!	Hippolyta who crossed to exit, steps closer to overhear the next discussion.
THESEUS	Thanks, good Egeus: what's the news with thee?	Egeus = Eh-jh-iyahs
EGEUS:	I come with complaint against my child, Hermia [she curtsies reluctantly. He gestures to Demetrius]. Stand forth, Demetrius [Demetrius bows sullenly]. He hath my consent to marry her.  PAUSE  Stand forth, Lysander! [Lysander bows, but shoots eye daggers toward Demetrius] This man hath bewitch'd mydaughter, turning her obedience to stubbornness: I beg the privilege of the Louisiana Territory that I may dispose of her to Demetrius or to her death, according to our law.	Egeus is angry with his daughter. See Becoming Jane for curtsy and bows during Regency.
THESEUS:	What say you, Hermia?  Demetrius is a worthy gentleman.	[She steps forward one step]
HERMIA:	So is Lysander. Your Grace, . May I know the worst that may befall me if I refuse to wed Demetrius?	She looks at Lysander and her father before starting – May….
THESEUS:	Take time to pause; and, by the next new moon-- The sealing-day betwixt my love and me. [He blows a kiss to Hippolyta. Hippolyta stares at Theseus, then turns sternly to Hermia].  Upon that day either prepare to die or else wed Demetrius (Hipollyta’s hand on his shoulder) or to live a barren sister all your life. [Hermia shakes her head as if to say NEVER]	Barren sister  = nun
DEMETRIUS:	Relent, sweet Hermia: and, Lysander, yield to my entitlement.
LYSANDER:	You have her father's love, Demetrius; Let me have Hermia's: PAUSE You marry him.
EGEUS:	Scornful Lysander! True, Demetrius hath my love. And as Hermia is mine, I bestow her unto Demetrius.
LYSANDER:	My Lord, my fortunes equal Demetrius.  My love is more than his, and I am beloved of beauteous Hermia: PAUSE   Demetrius, I speak blunt, He won Helena’s soul; and she, sweet lady, dotes, devoutly dotes, upon this inconstant man.	Demetrius bedded Helena.
THESEUS:	I must confess that I have heard as much.  (Egeus looks questioningly at Demetrius) (Hippolyta questions Theseus with a look, then exits URS, then turns and exits) Come, Demetrius & Egeus.  And for you, fair Hermia, be obedient to your father's will; or else get you to a nunnery.	Theseus follows and we can see them discussing what ensued. T tries to kiss H, & she stalks off. Theseus kisses the air & is confused. .
		[Exeunt all but LYSANDER and HERMIA USL. Lysander & Hermia pretend to follow in time to Theseus, Hippolyta, Egeus, and Demetrius, but march in place, then run DCS] [Lysander grabs her hand, then rubs his hand on Hermia’s cheek and whispers in her right ear against a pylon. ]
LYSANDER:	My love! The course of true love never did run smooth; [He ponders, then quickly says], I have a widow aunt of great revenue who respects me as her only son. In Barataria Bay, her house is remote in the swamp and the sharp Louisiana law cannot pursue us there; Gentle Hermia, if thou lovest me, then steal forth thy father's house to-morrow night; and will I stay for thee.	Stay = wait [Enter HELENA USC]	Blues music
HERMIA	Truly, will I meet with thee.
LYSANDER:	Keep promise, love. Look, here comes Helena	Egeus & Demetrius look for Hermia, but exit stage left.. Helena enters, sees Demetrius, but he scurries away. .(Lysander & Hermia  embrace and hide from Egeus while speaking to Helena) She sees Lysander & Hermia and exaggerates a sad choppy breath.
HERMIA:	God speed, fair Helena.	Helena & Hermia are like sisters.  They have been close since childhood.
HELENA:	Call you me fair? You sway the motion of Demetrius' heart. O, teach me how you look. no pause
HERMIA:	The more I hate him, the more he follows me. no pause
HELENA:	The more I love, the more he hateth me. no pause
HERMIA:	His folly is no fault of mine.no pause
HELENA:	None, but your beauty: Would that fault were mine! no pause
HERMIA:	Take comfort: he no more shall see my face; (secretly) no pause  Lysander and myself will fly this place. From New Orleans turn away our eyes. (she hugs and dances with Helena)  Sweet playfellow: pray for us; And good luck grant thee thy Demetrius! (Hermia approaches Lysander and holds his chin within her hands, looking deeply into his eyes) Lysander, we must starve our sight from lovers' food till morrow deep midnight.
LYSANDER:	Aye, my Hermia. Adieu. [Hermia exits USL as they blow kisses to each other] Helena, to you our minds we do unfold: Adieu: And may Demetrius dote constant on you! [Lysander exits USR]
HELENA:	Oh spite!   How happy a couple they can be! [DCS She sighs deeply, then considers….]	[She exits USC] .	Musicians play.
		[Enter QUINCE, SNUG, BOTTOM, FLUTE, SNOUT, and STARVELING USR]
SCENE II Twilight The Mechanicals	In the innyard. They stop DCS and greet each other as they near the audition place.	Philostrate watches from afar.
QUINCE	Is all our company here?	(Bottom rushes in and motions for everyone to gather.  He is surprised by some, excited by some.
BOTTOM	You best call them according to the script.	Bottom is the know it all & OVER THE TOP excited.
QUINCE	Here is the scroll of every man's name, which is thought fit to act  before the duke and duchess on the wedding  night.	Peter Quince – we don’t know how he got the job of director.  He is unsure about his role.
BOTTOM	First, good Peter Quince, say what the play treats on, then read the names of the actors, and so grow to a point.	Hurry up and get to the end of your speech.
QUINCE	Marry, our play is, The Most Lamentable Comedy, and Most Cruel Death of Pyramus and Thisby	The word "Marry" is an exclamation used in Shakespeare's time. Its best definition is "indeed!" Classical mythology the story of Pyramus & Thisbe – two young lovers of Babylon who held conversations in defiance of their parents through the crack in a wall.  On believing Thisbe dead, Pyramus killed himself. When Thisbe discovers his body, she commits suicide. (Connection Pyramus & Thisbe = Lysander & Hermia)
BOTTOM	A good piece of work, I assure you. Now, good Peter Quince, call forth your actors by the scroll. (The mechanicals lean in and he looks at them)  BEAT Masters, spread yourselves.	The actors look like this play is a matter of life and death – to have the honor of presenting this on the occasion of the wedding – is BEYOND their hopes. Bottom tells the actors to move out – quit crowding him.
QUINCE	Answer as I call you.  PAUSE Nick Bottom, the weaver.
BOTTOM	Ready. Name what part I am for, and proceed.	He claps his hands impatiently.
QUINCE	You, Nick Bottom, are set down for Pyramus.	(He throws him a script)
BOTTOM	What is Pyramus? a lover, or a tyrant?	He makes kisses, and deepens voice as a big male.
QUINCE	A lover (PAUSE) that kills himself for love.
BOTTOM	That will ask some tears in the true performing of it: My chief humour is for a tyrant: I could play “Ercules but a lover is more condoling.	Bottom goes off away from the group, and makes sure that he has an audience.  Bottom looks around for a pumpkin.Then dramatically- I can cry and make the audience cry – although I’d play the mean guy so much better. Pronounced Ercahlees – Hercules.
QUINCE	Francis Flute, the bellows-mender.
FLUTE	Here, Peter Quince.
QUINCE	Flute, you must take Thisby on you. BEAT  It is the lady that Pyramus must love.	Actors laugh because Flute has been trying to rush puberty. Men played women during this time in history – it was thought inappropriate & illegal until after 1660.
FLUTE	Nay, let me not play a woman; I have a beard coming.
BOTTOM	(Bottom takes Quince aside and stage whispers) Let me play Thisby too, I'll speak in a monstrous little voice, “Ah, Pyramus, lover dear! (BIG VOICE)Thy Oooh! lady dear!”	Bottom grabs a lady’s scarf and puts it over his head as a woman. This is Bottom showing that he is not the brightest – monstrous & little are opposites.He plays both parts – moving & with different voices.
QUINCE	No, no; you must play Pyramus: and, Flute, you Thisby. Snug, the joiner; you, the lion's part: and, I hope, here is a play fitted.
SNUG	Have you the lion's part written? pray you, if it be, give it me, for I am slow of study.	Snug is not the sharpest knife in the drawer J
QUINCE	It is nothing but roaring.
BOTTOM	Let me play the lion too. I will roar, that I will make the duke say,” Let him roar again, let him roar again!”
QUINCE	No, you would fright the duchess & the ladies, that they would shriek; and that were enough to hang us all!
BOTTOM	I can aggravate my voice so that I will roar as gently as any nightingale.	(He sings foolishly, but he thinks well.  Philostrate trips him and he sees his audience laugh at him, not with him.  He is visibly hurt) (Quince picks up Bottom’s hat, dusts him off, and says)
QUINCE	You can play no part but Pyramus; PAUSE
BOTTOM	Well, I will undertake it.
QUINCE:	Masters, here are your parts: and I entreat you to know them by to-morrow night. Meet me at Barataria Bay near Jean Lafitte’s cypress by moonlight. There will we rehearse.  I pray you, fail me not.	He speaks to Bottom, and there is a silent contract between the two)  .(Bottom is serious and begs his fellow actors)
BOTTOM	Take pains; be perfect: adieu.		Melancholy harmonica music plays
SLO MO?	[The mechanicals watch Bottom exit DSL. Puck takes off the mortal clothes, laughs, does a jig stirring up as the wind picks up, lightning and thunder strikes.  Actors quickly move as if moving items from a storm. Helena tries to journey in the rain and rests, pulling her lace parasol over her head for protection.		Lightning thunder
HELENA: (feeling sorry for herself)	Through New Orleans, I am thought as fair as Hermia. But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so;(A sudden plan)  I will go tell Demetrius of fair Hermia's flight: Then to the cypress grove will he to-morrow night pursue her; and for this intelligence I’ll have thanks.(	Helena crosses to RCS New Or-linz Helena runs off DSR)
SCENE III The cypress grove the following night	. [Puck enters singing, then stops – watching faeries. Enter, from opposite sides,USL faeries and PUCK sneaks in USR]A magical, ethereal wood in Barataria Bay. Lavendar wash on cyclorama Puck begins singing “Savez-vous planter les choux” He stops short and watches the faeries. He scares them.  They are weary having wandered the country for miles. They are too busy to speak to Puck	Oberon & Titania have an immature love – open to other conquests.  Although he mellows in his sorrow for Helena, he cannot refrain from ridiculing Titania by causing her to fall in love with an ass.	Puck sings -“Savez-vous planter les choux”]
PUCK	How now, spirits, whither wander you?	No PAUSE Instead, they may sing in a minor key
COBWEB	Over hill, over dale	No PAUSE
PEASEBLOSSOM	Thorough bush, through swamps	No PAUSE Thorough = through
MUSTARDSEED	We wander everywhere, swifter than the moon's sphere.	No PAUSE
COBWEB	We serve the faery queen To dew her orbs upon the green	No PAUSE Orbs = world, circles, faery rings
PUCK	The king doth keep his revels here to-night: Oberon is jealous because the queen dotes on the son of an Indian king. Oberon would have the child to trace the forests wild; But she withholds the boy: And now they never meet in grove or green, , or starlight sheen, But, they argue and rate, so that the elves hide for fear. Puck seems puzzled by this.	(She stops amid the bustle and looks at Puck for the first time)  NO PAUSE In Elizabethan lore Puck was a mischievous, brownielike fairy also called Robin Goodfellow, or Hobgoblin. A trickster. He is also connected to the Norse demon, sometimes associated with the devil. Unlike Oberon who tries to create human happiness, Puck seems indifferent to human suffering.
PEASEBLOSSOM:	Either I mistake your shape, or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite Call'd Robin Goodfellow:	OBERON, enters USL watching the FAERIES. Peaseblossom is a boy faery name. Moth is not an insect, but a mote like dust mote. Pronounced mot NO PAUSE
COBWEB:	Are you he who misleads the night-wanderers, laughing at their harm?	NO PAUSE
MUSTARDSEED:	Are you he that Hobgoblin called sweet Puck?	NO PAUSE
FAERIES:	Are not you he?	NO PAUSE
PUCK	Thou speak'st aright; I am that merry wanderer of the night. I jest to Oberon and make him smile, and with other creatures I do beguile. But, room, fairy! (Puck gestures and bows) …… Oberon. (Oberon motions silence.)	Titania enters USR
FAERIES:	And here, our mistress.	NO PAUSE
OBERON	Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania.	NO PAUSE
TITANIA	What, jealous Oberon! FAERIES, skip hence (let us go): I have forsworn his company.
OBERON	Tarry, rash wanton: am not I thy lord?	Puck and FAERIES appear afraid.	Thunder & Lightning
TITANIA	Since the middle summer's spring, met we on hill (questioning), in cypress grove by rushy brook to dance our ringlets to the whistling wind, But with thy brawls thou hast disturb'd our sport.Therefore the moon, the governess of floods, washes all the air, and through this distemperature, we see the seasons alter: PAUSE This evil comes from our dissension.	NO PAUSE
OBERON(He changes tactics, and is tender)	Why should Titania cross her Oberon? I do but beg a little changeling boy to be my henchman.	NO PAUSE
TITANIA(She speaks of her friend with sadness and conviction)	Set your heart at rest:. His mother was my companion: But she, being mortal, did die; And for her sake do I rear up her boy, and I will not part with him.	NO PAUSE
OBERON	How long within this grove intend you stay?	NO PAUSE
TITANIA	Perchance till after Theseus' wedding-day.(She almost flirts with him – hoping for more) If you will patiently dance in our round and see our moonlight revels, go with us;	NO PAUSE
OBERON	Give me that boy.	NO PAUSE
TITANIA (She is insulted)	Not for thy faery kingdom. Faeries, away!.	[Exit TITANIA with her train USL] FAERIES dance to the harmonica when exiting].	Harmonica
OBERON (directed at Titania, but spoken without her hearing. He kneels as she leaves)  Puck tries to flee)	I shall torment thee for this injury. (to Puck) My gentle Puck,. Rememberest Cupid’s flower, the Hibiscus? (Puck reacts)  On sleeping eye-lids laid will make man or woman madly dote upon the next live creature that it sees. (They laugh) Fetch me this herb; and be thou here again swiftly.	(He motions for Puck to come.Puck has been emulating him – his facial gestures and his physical gestures.  Oberon is telling the story. for Puck to come closer)	THUNDER LIGHTNING AFTER INJURY
PUCK	I'll put a girdle round about the earth In forty minutes.	(Puck doesn’t move, then Oberon motions for him to go. Puck is embarrassed to have forgotten)Puck exits USR	Puck begins singing “Savez-vous planter les choux”
OBERON (Speaking to himself, gazing into the audience)	Having once this love potion, I'll watch Titania when she is asleep, And drop the liquor of it in her eyes. BEAT But who comes?  I am invisible!	Oberon is distracted by the entrance of Helena and Demetrius) Oberon holds up a branch to be invisible.
SCENE IV Later that evening	[Enter DEMETRIUS, with  HELENA carrying lanterns, following him DSL.  She is carrying all of their baggage]	Oberon watches.  He is facially sympathetic to Helena
DEMETRIUS	I love thee not, therefore pursue me not. (Helena, exhausted, drops the baskets. Demetrius looks into the basket, picks up an apple and begins eating) Where is Lysander and fair Hermia? Thou told'st me they were stol’n unto this grove; and here am I. (Pauses, and orders. He throws the apple core at her) Follow me no more.	NO PAUSE
HELENA	You draw me, you hard-hearted adamant (magnet).	NO PAUSE She takes off her jacket, spreading her arms out, then leaves it.
DEMETRIUS	no pause Do I entice you? Do I not in plainest truth tell you, I do not, nor I cannot love you?	No PAUSE
HELENA	And even for that do I love you the more.: As your spaniel, spurn me, neglect me, only allow me to follow you. (She almost pants as she looks at him)	She leans against Oberon with the branch as though she is leaning against a tree. [Enter TITANIA, with her trainers.  They make their nest within the bower] Helena grabs Demetrius. He tries to jerk free No PAUSE
DEMETRIUS	If thou follow me, I shall do thee mischief in the wood.	(He exits but grabs an apple from her basket before he exits ULS) No PAUSE(She exits USL following Demetrius with the bags)
OBERON	Fare thee well, my lady (to PUCK. He has moved the flower in front of Oberon as Theseus did at the beginning )  Welcome, wanderer. Hast thou the flower?	(He watches the mortals and understands her need.  He has also been looking at Titania with longing) Puck hands Oberon the flower.
OBERON (Oberon motions toward Titania. She and her FAERIES are combing hair, readying for bed.)	There sleeps Titania and with the juice of this, I'll streak her eyes. (He thinks, picks up Helena’ss jacket and tells him) Take thou some of it, and seek through this grove: a sweet Louisiana lady is in love with a disdainful youth: Anoint his eyes; but do it when the next thing he espies may be the lady:
PUCK	Fear not, my Lord, your servant shall do so.	Uses laser pointer to appear
SCENE V – Titania’s Bower – one hour later	FAERIES dance to the tunes of the musicians and bells. Peaseblossom and Mustardseed bring Titania the mirror and goblet.		Musicians play AuClair de la lune
TITANIA	Come, now a roundel; Sing me now asleep; Then let me rest.  Stand sentinel(guard).	[Exeunt FAERIES after dancing in a roundel (circle). TITANIA sleeps] [OBERON moves toward her, and squeezes the flower on TITANIA's eyelids]	FAERIES sing Au clair de la lune
OBERON: (He leans and caresses her hair as he lovingly wipes it on her eyes)	What thou seest, when thou dost awake, do it for thy true love take.  (He kisses her forehead then laughs)  Wake when some vile thing is near!	Exit Oberon: enter Lysander and Hermia  [Enter LYSANDER and HERMIA URS]	Musical transition
LYSANDER:	Fair Love, you faint with wand’ring in the wood, and to speak the truth, I have forgot our way; We’ll rest here, Hermia
HERMIA	Be it so, Lysander(They kiss)  find you out a bed; (she motions a different place )For I upon this bank will rest my head.
LYSANDER	One turf shall serve as pillow for us both; One heart, one bed, two bosoms and one troth	.(Hermia giggles and puts him off)
HERMIA	(They kiss again, she pulls apart) Lie further off. Such separation becomes a virtuous bachelor and a maid. (she puts a hand over his shoulder) Good night, sweet friend:	[They sleep]	[Enter USL  PUCK] Musicians play
LYSANDER	Amen, amen, to that fair prayer, say I; (He goes to his area, frustrated) Here is my bed: sleep give thee all his rest!	(Hermia smiles as she sleeps) Puck is exhausted & frustrated.
PUCK	Through the forest have I gone. But a Louisiana man found I none. (Hears Lysander snoring) --Who is here? Weeds of Louisiana he doth wear: And here the maiden, sleeping sound. (Puck picks up the hat she has discarded and walks as a woman mortal He touches the flower on Lysander’s eyelids)  Upon thy eyes I throw all the power this charm doth owe.	[USR Enter DEMETRIUS and HELENA, running.  Exhausted, she falls. ]
HELENA	Stay, sweet Demetrius.	She pants
DEMETRIUS	Do not haunt me thus. Stay, on thy peril: I alone will go.	DEMETRIUS exits USR .
HELENA	O, I am out of breath in this fond chase! (She sees Lysander and believes he has been hurt)  But who is here? Lysander! Dead? I see no blood. Lysander if you live, good sir, awake.
LYSANDER, [Awaking- sees Helena]	And run through fire I will for thy sweet sake.  Where is Demetrius? O, He shall perish on my sword!	He is about to rush off, & she stops him.
HELENA	Do not say so, Lysander; say not so. Hermia still loves you: then be content.
LYSANDER	Content with Hermia! No; Not Hermia but Helena I love:	He tries to kiss her and she avoids him.
HELENA	Why do you mock me? Is't not enough that I never can deserve a sweet look from Demetrius' eye? I thought you lord of more true gentleness.	Helena exits USL.
LYSANDER	Helena!	(Lysander chases Helena USL. Hermia is having a horrible dream)
HERMIA[Awaking]	Ay me! What a dream was here! Lysander, look how I do quake with fear:? Gone? No word? Either death or you I'll find immediately.	. (Hermia exits USL).