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A Midsummer Night’s Dream  

Act I

At the court of Athens, preparations are under way for the marriage of Duke Theseus and Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. Demetrius and Lysander enter with Egeus and his daughter Hermia, with whom both the young men are in love. Hermia’s father bemoans the fact that his daughter is not disposed to marry Demetrius, whom he has chosen for her. Theseus warns Hermia, who is in love with Lysander, that if she does not comply with her father’s wishes, she will be required to live out her life as a nun.

Jealously watched by Helena, who in turn pines for Demetrius, Hermia and Lysander confess their love for each other. They resolve to flee to a place where Athenian law does not apply.

Under the guidance of Quince, labourers – amongst them Bottom – prepare to perform a play for the upcoming wedding in the moonlit forest. The lovers also enter the scene at this mysterious location. Puck, an elf, appears. Titania, queen of the fairies, enters with her entourage. She goes deeper into the forest accompanied by her Indian changeling. Furious, Oberon, king of the fairies, demands that she hand over the girl. When he loses the argument, he and Puck dream up a cunning plot to recover the girl: Puck must collect a flower that, when its juice is trickled into the eyes of someone who is asleep, causes them to fall in love with the first person they set eyes on when they awaken.

Helena is looking for Demetrius, who in turn is looking for Lysander and Hermia. Observed by Oberon, Demetrius spurns Helena when she once again declares her love for him. Puck returns with the flower he was sent to find. With it, Oberon plans to befuddle Titania and make Demetrius fall in love with Helena.

Surrounded by her fairies, Titania lies down to rest. Oberon trickles the juice of the flower into her eyes.

Hermia and Lysander have lost their way. Lysander tries to approach Hermia, but she sends him away. Puck sprinkles the fateful juice on the eyelids of Lysander, mistaking him for Demetrius.

Demetrius manages to give Helena the slip and hides. Helena bemoans her fate. She stumbles upon the sleeping lovers. Lysander awakens, and, under the influence of the flower juice, passionately declares his love for Helena. Helena feels that he is mocking her. Hermia awakens; deeply disturbed by a dream, she is filled with anxiety.

The labourers arrive to rehearse. Puck joins the company. Unobserved by the others, he uses his magic to turn Bottom into a donkey.

Seeing the horrified reaction of the labourers, Bottom realizes that his appearance has changed: he sees the reflection of a donkey’s head in the pond.

Titania awakens and immediately falls in love with the beast. Oberon is delighted with the course of events.

Demetrius, followed by Oberon and Puck, searches for Hermia in the forest. Now Oberon trickles the juice into Demetrius‘s eyes. Lysander is still pursing Helena. She comes upon the sleeping Demetrius, who awakens and immediately falls feverishly in love with her. Both young men now pay court to Helena, who believes she is the victim of a conspiracy. They completely ignore Hermia, who can only stand and watch as the young men fight for Helena. When the two bemused youths are completely exhausted, Puck trickles the flower juice on Lysander‘s eyelids to make good his previous mistake. 

Act II

Titania is in love with the donkey and eager to grant his every wish; exhausted, they fall asleep.

Oberon decides to put an end to the game. After securing the changeling, he kisses his beloved. She awakens and tells him of her terrible dream about a donkey. When Oberon shows her Bottom, who is still asleep, Titania is horrified. Oberon and Titania are reconciled.

In the forest, Theseus, Hippolyta and Egeus find the eloping couple. It is the day on which Hermia must make her decision. Since Demetrius now declares his love for Helena, nothing now stands in the way of the union of Hermia and Lysander. Egeus, Theseus and Hippolyta are content.

In Athens, the labourers search desperately for Bottom, who, now in his normal appearance, recalls wonderful dreams in the forest. They learn that two other couples – Hermia and Lysander, Helena and Demetrius – are to be married. To the general relief of the assembled company, Bottom finally reappears.

With much celebrating, a triple wedding finally takes place.