More than just a play, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is Shakespeare at his best. In 1999 Phyllis Papa choreographed and directed this play filled with actors, singers, and dancers in beautiful period costumes and exquisite scenery. In 2006 Phyllis Papa choreographed A Midsummer Night's Dream as a ballet following the comic storyline and remained in the repertoire for the AC Ballet.
A forest near Athens, one Midsummer Eve. In a forest near the Duke’s palace, Oberon, King of the Fairies, and Titania, his queen, quarrel over the Indian child they both want. Oberon orders Puck to bring the flower pierced by Cupid’s arrow (which causes anyone coming under its influence to fall in love with the first person the eyes behold). While Titania is asleep and unknowingly, he casts the flower’s spell over her. Meanwhile, Helena wandering in the woods, meets Demetrius, whom she loves, but he does not love her. Demetrius rejects her and goes his way. Oberon watches and tells Puck to use the flower on Demetrius so that he may return Helena’s affection. Another couple, Hermia and Lysander, very much in love, are also wandering in the forest but become separated. Puck, eager to carry out Oberon’s orders, mistakenly anoints Lysander. Helena appears, and Lysander, under the flower’s spell, at once and, to her amazement, tells her how much he loves her. Hermia returns and is astonished and then dismayed to see Lysander paying attention only to Helena. Puck also brings Demetrius under the flower’s spell, much to the delight of Helena, who doesn’t care for Lysander. Demetrius and Lysander, now both in love with Helena, begin to quarrel over her. Puck, at Oberon’s order, has separated Bottom, a weaver, from his companions, transformed his head into that of an ass, and placed him at the sleeping Titania’s feet. Awakening, Titania sees Bottom, thinks him fair, and pays him close and loving attention.
At last, Oberon, his anger over, has Bottom sent away and releases Titania from her spell. Hermia now receives no attention paid to her, and Helena receives too much. The men, completely at odds, quarrel seriously and begin to fight. Puck, by his magic, causes them to separate. They lose one another and wander apart in the forest until exhausted, they fall asleep, with Puck arranging for Helena to fall asleep beside Demetrius and Lysander (his spell removed) by Hermia. The Duke and Hippolyta discover the lovers asleep in the forest, awaken them, find their differences are resolved and proclaim a triple wedding for themselves and the two couples.
At the Court of Theseus.
The second act opens in the Duke’s palace with parades, dancing, and divertissements in honor of the newly married couples. When the celebrations are over and the mortals retire, we return to the demesne of Oberon and Titania, who are now reunited and at peace. At last, Puck, having put order into disorder, sweeps away the remnants of the night’s doings. The fireflies twinkle in the night and reclaim the forest.
