A Midsummer Night s Sleepover

Similar documents
SCENE II. Another part of the wood.

Year 7 Literature Revision A Midsummer Night s Dream

The Fairy Queen. Resource Pack

Characters. Nobles Hermia. tailor (Moonshine) Bottom. Snout. tinker (Wall) Flute. Snug. Fairies

EGEUS SIDE OBERON/TITANIA SIDE

A Midsummer Night s Dream Study-Guide Packet

5. How does Lysander s comment about Demetrius s previous love affair with Helena complicate things?

The Cast. King of the Fairies. This part is almost all in Shakespearean verse. An important role, lots of lines. Sings solo in Abracadabra

A Midsummer Night s Dream

English. Spring Term Assessment. Year 7 Revision Guide

PART ONE. Love and the Law

A Midsummer Night's Dream: Plot Summary

A Midsummer Night s Dream

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT S DREAM By William Shakespeare

A Midsummer Nights Dream. Detailed Study Questions Act I, scene i

A Midsummer Night s Dream

(Adapted for children by Marilyn Nikimaa) CHARACTER LIST

idsummer Night s lison Reynolds Advance A Retelling of Shakespeare s Classic Play illustrated by ike ccarthy

A Midsummer Night s Dream

A Midsummer Night s Dream SS Play 2015 Audition pack

A Midsummer Night s Dream

Experiencing Stanislavsky Today Event Breakdown #1

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Handout #1 Midsummer Scenes. A Midsummer Night s Dream Act 1, Scene 1. Enter HELENA HERMIA. God speed fair Helena! whither away?

Midsummer. Night. Dream

THESEUS Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptual hour Draws on apace; (They spar) Four happy days bring in Another moon.

SAMPLE - INCOMPLETE SCRIPT. A Community ShakespeareCompany Edition of. A Midsummer Nights Dream. Original verse adaptation by Richard Carter

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. By William Shakespeare. Edited for Dianne Roberts' 3rd Grade Class 2013/14. Cast:

Dream. A Midsummer Night s T W O H O U R S T R A F F I C

Multi-paragraph Questions: Characters: Be prepared to compare characters Themes

WINGED CUPID PAINTED BLIND: THE GREEN WORLD AS A MIRAGE

Grade 8: Module 2B: Unit 1: Lesson 10 Reading Shakespeare: Analyzing a Theme of A Midsummer Night s Dream

Marin Shakespeare s 2018 Teen Touring Company is proud to present. A Midsummer Night s Dream. Directed by Jackson Currier

A Midsummer Night's Dream Oberon complete text

CD s+((r + 5 5c,,e"'Q., J:)( h,"j fc

List of characters. The court. The lovers. The Mechanicals (workers who put on a play) The fairies. Titania s fairy attendants

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. by William Shakespeare

THREE LITTLE PIGS. Do you want to join him in his dreamy adventure?

LitCharts. A Midsummer Night's Dream. The best way to study, teach, and learn about books. BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Prestwick House. Side-By-Sides. Click here. to learn more about this Side-By-Side! Click here. to find more Classroom Resources for this title!

Midsummer: 80. The Atlanta Shakespeare Company

Mix and Matchmaking: Character Cards

UNIT 3 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM : I

A Midsummer Night s Dream

STUDY GUIDE DOWNLOAD A PDF VERSION OF THIS STUDY GUIDE FROM OUR WEBSITE!

A Midsummer Night s Dream Audition Monologues (choose one)

A Midsummer Night's Dream Helena complete text

Blanca Flor. Angel Vigil

Echo and Narcissus. Zeus, the mightiest of the gods, was married to Hera, the goddess of marriage.

Dee-Cy-Paul Story Worship or Sing? Dee-Cy-Paul Bookends

MSND Grammar Review A MIDSUMMER NIGHT S DREAM by William Shakespeare Grammar and Style

The Genesis of Jesus by Susan Greenwood

A Midsummer Night s Dream Auditions June 5 & 6, 5pm-8pm Center for the Arts, Homer, NY

Cat fights and Looks. Shakespeare sexism in Midsummer night s dream. In Midsummer Night s Dream Shakespeare, does play into the stereotypes and gender

CLOWNING AROUND HAL AMES

Harvest Children s Ministry Presents Rock The World Episode 6: Commandment Number One No Other God

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. Luke 2:52

A Midsummer Night's Dream

252 Groups January 2015, Week 4 adjusted Large Group, 4-5. Show Me the Way

MIRACLE ON MAIN STREET

Verses to Read Someone Notices! Under God's Eye Who Is Afraid?

Macbeth Act V. Act V, Scene i takes place late at night in Macbeth s castle.

Identity and Romantic Love in Shakespeare s A Midsummer Night s Dream

Hercules. Characters:

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT S DREAM. by William Shakespeare. lightly abridged (to 74%) by Peter Gould. for GET THEE TO THE FUNNERY

A Midsummer Night s Dream

Why By Nora Spinaio. Scene I

P 84 Act 5 Sc 1 The kinder we to my capacity. P 78 Act 4 Sc 1 Enough should be your wife.

Study Guide to A MIDSOMMER NIGHTS DREAME

Ghost of a Christmas Chance

Tales From Shakespeare. Charles and Mary Lamb. Web-Books.Com

April 7, Dear Looking for Shakespeare Applicant:

The Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet Act II Scene 2 lines Scene 2 {Romeo comes forward.}

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT S DREAM

Jackie learns how to be a true friend

Conversations with God

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT S DREAM Written by William Shakespeare Edited by Andrew Cassel Based on the First Folio. 1.1A Sweep the Dust

Shakespeare Quiz: Popular Culture and Literature

For I ne er saw true beauty till this night.

Full Text: COPYRIGHT 1997 Joyce Moss and George Wilson, COPYRIGHT 2007 Gale

Conditions and Terms of Use

Chapter one. The Sultan and Sheherezade

Sermon by Bob Bradley

Every night at bedtime, Mom helps me put on my favorite. pajamas, gives me a drink of water, and tells me a story. Then

They should prepare Puck s speech on P 44 Act 2 Sc 1 Thou speak st aright.

Shakespeare paper: Macbeth

JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM

Hiding Christmas. The Original Stageplay. Cleveland O. McLeish

Kindergarten & 1st Grade Week 1, April 2 Feet First Bible Story: Bottom Line: Memory Verse: Life App: Basic Truth:

Healing Jairus Daughter Lesson Aim: To know Jesus can heal us.

Calliope Theatre Company Study Guide

Ungrateful Nine Lepers React by Jennifer Graham Jolly

6 Alice and Wonderland

GAMBINI, Lígia. Side by Side. pp Side by Side

Rinny the Rinpoche. Amber Marie Williams

Dee-Cy-Paul Story Rules, Rules

Say It FAITH LESSON 9 SUPERCHURCH2.0 MEMORY VERSE:

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT S DREAM

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Transcription:

Plays is protected by U.S. copyright law. Only current subscribers may use this play (www.playsmagazine.com). A Midsummer Night s Sleepover A modern retelling of one of Shakespeare s greatest comedies...perfect for large casts. by Elizabeth Boiko Burdick Middle Grades Characters Sleepover Party: AMY, likes Andy ELLEN, Amy s best friend, likes Teddy ANDY, likes Ellen TEDDY, Andy s best friend, also likes Ellen MRS. SUE RAY, Ellen s mom MR. GEORGE SILVER, Andy s dad The Bedtime Story/Dream Characters THESEUS, Duke of Athens EGEUS, Hermia s father LYSANDER, in love with Hermia DEMETRIUS, also in love with Hermia PHILOSTRATE, master of the revels BOTTOM, a weaver HIPPOLYTA, queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus HERMIA, Egeus s daughter, in love with Lysander HELENA, in love with Demetrius OBERON, king of the fairies TITANIA, queen of the fairies PUCK, goblin who serves Oberon PEASEBLOSSOM, fairy who serves Titania COBWEB, fairy MOTH, fairy MUSTARDSEED, fairy CHANGELING BOY SETTING: In front of closed curtain at left is a boy s room set up for a sleepover, with two sleeping bags in front of a night table with a lamp, cell phone, and storybook. In front of curtain right is a girl s room set up for a sleepover, with two sleeping bags, stuffed animals, in front of a night table with a lamp, cell phone, and storybook. There is a chair next to each night table. Each room is strewn with sleepover junk- chip bags, soda, candy wrappers, etc. Trees can be brought onto the stage as 1

soon as dream action begins center stage. AT RISE: AMY and ELLEN, ANDY and TEDDY are sitting on top of their sleeping bags, in pajamas, getting ready for bed. Girls pantomime talking and giggling. Boys pantomime playing video games. MRS. RAY (From off right): Lights out in five minutes, girls! AMY and ELLEN: O.K., Mom! O.K., Mrs. Ray! MR. SILVER (From off left): No more video games, boys, it s time for bed! ANDY and TEDDY (Absent mindedly while playing): O.K., Dad! Sure, Mr. Silver! (Boys continue playing video games while girls are talking.) ELLEN: It s not fair! Andy and Teddy both like you, and I like Teddy. How come you get two guys and I get none? AMY: I m really sorry, Ellen. I don t know how this happened. Andy and I really liked each other, then all of a sudden Teddy started liking me, too. But I don t like Teddy at all! I promise. ELLEN: Teddy used to like me. I don t know what happened. AMY: Why don t you ask him? He s sleeping over at Andy s house tonight. Let s call and you can talk to him. ELLEN: No way! I could never do that. AMY: Well, how about if I call Andy and tell him to talk to Teddy? ELLEN (After a moment s hesitation): Oh, all right, but don t let him think I had anything to do with it. AMY (Dialing cell phone): Don t worry. (ANDY s cell phone rings.) 2 ANDY (Answering): Hello. AMY: Hi, Andy. ANDY (Smiling): Oh! Hi, Ellen. TEDDY (Grabbing phone): It must be for me! ANDY (Covering phone): No it s not, Teddy, it s for me! TEDDY: You are such a loser, Andy, don t you know that Amy likes me now? ANDY: She does not, she hates your guts! (They fight loudly. The girls mime confusion as they listen together on the phone. MR. SILVER enters left.) MR. SILVER: Hey! Boys, boys! What s going on? ANDY: Amy called me, not Teddy, and he s trying to grab the phone. MR. SILVER: A phone call? It s 10:30 at night! (Tries to grab phone from boys) MRS. RAY (Entering right): Bedtime, girls! (Sees girls on phone) How many times have I told you, no phone after 8:00! (MRS. RAY and MR. SILVER grab the phones at the same time.) MR. SILVER (Speaking into phone): Now see here, young lady, don t you realize how late it is? MRS. RAY (Into phone): But... MR. SILVER: Don t you talk back to me! Didn t that mother of yours ever teach you any manners? MRS. RAY: George? MR. SILVER (Offended): Excuse me! It s Mr. Silver to you! MRS. RAY (Yelling): This is Mrs. Ray!

MR. SILVER (After an embarrassed pause): Oh, my gosh, Sue, I m so sorry. I thought...well, I thought... MRS. RAY (Bemused): It seems we re both hosting sleepovers tonight. MR. SILVER (Laughing): How do you get them to fall asleep at a decent hour? MRS. RAY: Beats me. How about a bedtime story? MR. SILVER: I ll try anything at this point. MRS. RAY: Do you have a copy of the stories of Shakespeare? MR. SILVER (Miming looking through bookshelves): I think it s here somewhere. MRS. RAY: Look up A Midsummer Night s Dream. MR. SILVER (Smiling): I think I get your drift, Sue. Good night. MRS. RAY: Good night, George, and sweet dreams to the boys! (MRS. RAY and MR. SILVER sit in chairs and open storybook.) ANDY (Complaining): Not a bedtime story, Dad! That s so kindergarten! AMY: Come on, Mom, give us another chance! I promise we ll go to sleep. MRS. SILVER and MR. RAY (In unison): Not another sound! I have a great story for you tonight. MRS. RAY: It s a love story, MR. SILVER: That takes place in ancient Greece, MRS. RAY: and fairyland. MR. SILVER: Where mythical creatures make magic, MRS RAY: and wreak havoc, MR. SILVER: on unsuspecting mortals. MRS. SILVER: Once upon a time, Hippolyta, the mighty Queen of the Amazons MR. RAY: and Theseus, the wise Duke of Athens, were about to be married. (Curtain opens slightly and HIPPOLY- TA, THESEUS, and PHILOSTRATE appear.) THESEUS: Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour Draws on apace. HIPPOLYTA: Four nights will quickly dream away the time. MR. RAY: Theseus ordered his master of revels, Philostrate, to find some entertainment for his wedding banquet. THESEUS: Go, Philostrate, Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments. (PHILOSTRATE exits.) ANDY: Uh, Dad? This is kind of boring. AMY: What does this story have to do with anything? (Boys and girls lie down on top of sleeping bags, propping themselves up on their elbows to watch action on stage.) MR. SILVER and MRS. RAY: Wait and see. MR. SILVER: The bliss was soon interrupted when Egeus, Hermia s father, came to complain about his daughter. MRS. RAY: Hermia refused to marry Demetrius, her father s choice of husband. She wanted to choose her own 3

husband, and that displeased her father very much. (EGEUS appears from break in curtain, dragging HER- MIA by the hand. LYSANDER and DEMETRIUS follow behind.) THESEUS: Good Egeus: what s the news with thee? EGEUS: Full of vexation come I, with complaint Against my child, my daughter Hermia. THESEUS: What say you, Hermia? Demetrius is a worthy gentleman. So is Lysander. (She points to LYSANDER who is standing alone.) What if If I refuse to wed Demetrius? MR. SILVER: Hermia was told that if she refused to marry Demetrius, she could be killed or never allowed to marry at all. ELLEN: That s totally bogus! AMY: She should be able to choose her own husband! MRS. RAY: Hermia told Theseus that she d rather die than marry Demetrius. Demetrius told Hermia he s the best choice for her because her father likes him best. And Lysander said: If he likes you so much, why don t you marry Hermia s father? TEDDY: Oooh! ANDY: That s gotta hurt! MR. SILVER: Wise Theseus and mighty Hippolyta thought it best to hear more from Egeus and Demetrius in private. MRS. RAY: Lysander and Hermia 4 planned to run away the next day and get married secretly at Lysander s aunt s house in the woods outside of Athens. My good Lysander! Tomorrow truly will I meet with thee. Keep promise, love. Look, here comes Helena! (HELENA enters through curtain.) God speed, fair Helena! Call you me fair? that fair again unsay. Demetrius loves you fair: O happy fair! The more I hate, the more he follows me. The more I love, the more he hateth me. (HELENA, HERMIA, and LYSANDER exit.) MRS. RAY: Poor Helena. She loved Demetrius and was pretty upset that he wanted to marry her best friend. MR. SILVER: Lysander and Hermia comforted Helena by telling her of their plan to run away and get married in secret. AMY: Hold on a minute...this is confusing. Hermia loves Lysander? ANDY: And Lysander loves Hermia? ELLEN: And Helena loves Demetrius? TEDDY: But Demetrius loves Hermia? AMY: This story sounds very familiar. ANDY: Was this a TV movie or something? (All story characters exit.)

MR. SILVER and MRS. RAY: No more interruptions, please. Just listen and learn! MR. SILVER: The sun rose the next day on a busy wood outside of Athens. Bottom, a humble weaver, got word that the Duke and Queen were looking for some entertainment for their wedding. Being a true ham, he hoped to perform in a play to entertain at the wedding. (Curtain opens a little bit more to reveal a forest. BOTTOM enters. He looks around to make sure he is alone, then acts out both the parts of a man [Pyramus] and a woman [Thisbe] who are in love.) BOTTOM (In a deep voice): Thisbe, Thisbe; (In a high voice) Ah, Pyramus, lover dear! thy Thisbe dear, and lady dear! (BOTTOM exits, muttering his lines over and over again.) MRS. RAY: In that same part of the woods, two magic spirits met. One was a fairy named Peaseblossom, who worked for Titania, queen of the fairies. MR. SILVER: The other was a goblin named Puck, or Robin Goodfellow. He worked for Oberon, the king of the magical woodland creatures. (PUCK and PEASEBLOSSOM enter through curtain break.) How now, spirit! whither wander you? PEASEBLOSSOM: Over hill, over dale, Over park, over pale, I do wander everywhere, Swifter than the moon s sphere; And I serve the fairy queen, To do her orbs upon the green. The king doth keep his revels here tonight: Take heed the queen come not within his sight; PEASEBLOSSOM: Either I mistake your shape and making quite, Or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite Call d Robin Goodfellow. Thou speak st aright; I am that merry wanderer of the night. But, room, fairy! here comes Oberon. PEASEBLOSSOM: And here my mistress. Would that he were gone! (Curtain opens a little bit more to reveal woods. OBERON and PUCK enter from one side; from the other, TITANIA and CHANGELING CHILD enter, with COBWEB, MOTH, and MUSTARDSEED.) MRS. RAY: Peaseblossom and Puck were distressed because their masters were at odds with each other. MR. SILVER: Titania and Oberon were fighting over a little changeling boy stolen from humans and raised by fairies. Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania. TITANIA: What, jealous Oberon! Fairies, skip hence: I have forsworn his company. Why should Titania cross her Oberon? I do but beg a little changeling child, To be my henchman. (OBERON tries to grab CHANGELING. TITANIA grabs child back. Fairies are frightened.) TITANIA (Angrily): Not for thy fairy kingdom. Fairies, 5

away! (TITANIA, CHANGELING, and fairies run away.) MR. SILVER: Oberon was very angry with Titania. He ordered Puck to find a special flower, the juice of which would make Titania fall in love with the first beast or animal of the forest that she meets. He hoped this would distract Titania long enough to get her to forget about the boy. I ll put a girdle round about the earth In forty minutes. (PUCK runs off.) MRS. RAY: While Oberon was waiting for Puck to return, he spied Helena chasing Demetrius through the woods. Demetrius had decided to follow Hermia and Lysander to break up their impending marriage. And Helena was following Demetrius in one last attempt to regain his affection. But who comes here? I am invisible; And I will overhear their conference. (DEMETRIUS enters, followed by HELENA. 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. And I am sick when I look not on you. I ll run from thee And leave thee to the mercy of wild beasts. (DEMETRIUS runs off.) I ll follow thee! (HELENA chases him.) 6 TEDDY: Demetrius isn t being very nice to Helena. After all, they used to be together. ELLEN: Maybe Helena should just get over Demetrius and move on. MR. SILVER: Oberon felt sorry for Helena. He decided to use the flower to help Helena get Demetrius back. (PUCK enters.) Hast thou the flower there? Ay, there it is. I pray thee, give it me. MR. SILVER: Oberon gave a little bit of the flower to Puck. He described the young Athenian man he had seen in the woods, and told Puck to put some of the juice on his eyelids. He hoped this would solve Helena s problem once and for all. Fear not, my lord, your servant shall do so. (PUCK runs off. OBERON moves far upstage, out of view of TITANIA. TITANIA, CHANGELING, and fairies enter.) MRS. RAY: Titania quietly crept into her familiar forest clearing, careful to take her afternoon nap far from Oberon s watching eyes. TITANIA : Come, now a roundel and a fairy song; Sing me now asleep; Then to your offices and let me rest. FAIRIES (To the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star ): You spotted snakes with double tongue, Thorny hedgehogs, be not seen; Newts and blind-worms, do no wrong,

Come not near our fairy queen. Lulla, Lulla, Lullabye Lulla, Lulla, Lullabye. Weaving spiders, come not here; Hence, you long-legg d spinners, hence! Beetles black, approach not near; Worm nor snail, do no offence. Lulla, Lulla, Lullabye Lulla, Lulla, Lullabye. (TITANIA and CHANGELING fall asleep. PEASEBLOSSOM covers TITANIA with a blanket.) PEASEBLOSSOM: Hence, away! now all is well. (Fairies exit.) MR. SILVER: But Oberon was not far from the clearing. Once Titania was asleep and her fairies were gone, he cast his spell on her and stole the changeling boy. (OBERON creeps close and squeezes juice of flower onto TITANIA s eyelids.) What thou seest when thou dost wake, Do it for thy true-love take, Be it cat, or bear, or boar with bristled hair. (OBERON motions magically to CHANGELING, causing child to sleepwalk off with him.) MR. SILVER: As evening approached, Lysander and Hermia grew weary and stopped for the night to rest very close to where Titania was napping. Be it so, Lysander: find you out a bed; For I upon this bank will rest my head. Here is my bed: sleep give thee all his rest! (They fall asleep a distance from each other. PUCK enters, and squeezes flower juice onto LYSANDER s eyelids.) MR. SILVER: Puck was overjoyed to find the Athenian that Oberon described! Little did he know this was the wrong Athenian! Churl, upon thy eyes I throw All the power this charm doth owe. (PUCK exits.) MRS. RAY: Helena s chase led her to the place where Titania, Lysander, and Hermia lay sleeping. She was ready to give up. (DEMETRIUS runs across stage chased by HELENA, who stops.) I charge thee, hence, and do not haunt me thus. O, I am out of breath in this fond chase! The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace. MRS. RAY: She didn t see Titania or Hermia. When she saw Lysander, she feared the worst and tried to wake him. Lysander, if you live, good sir, awake. And run through fire I will for thy sweet sake. Where is Demetrius? O, how fit a word Is that vile name to perish on my sword. Yet Hermia still loves you: then be content. Not Hermia but Helena I love: Who will not change a raven for a dove? MRS. RAY: Helena, sure she was being teased by Lysander, stomped off, only to be chased by a lovesick Lysander. 7

(HELENA stomps off.) Yes, all my powers, address your love and might To honour Helen and to be her knight! (LYSANDER exits, sword in hand. HERMIA wakes up.) MRS. RAY: Hermia awoke to find Lysander gone. She vowed to find him no matter what. Lysander! Either death or you I ll find immediately. (HERMIA runs off.) MR. SILVER: As evening turned to night, Bottom the weaver was preparing for his role in the play for Theseus wedding. Little did he know, he was rehearsing right next to the sleeping Titania. And little did he know that he was being watched by the mischevious Puck! (BOTTOM and PUCK enter.) BOTTOM: Pat, pat; and here s a marvellous convenient place for my rehearsal. (BOTTOM clears throat, exits briefly.) MR. SILVER: As Bottom prepared to rehearse his grand entrance, Puck quickly turned his head into the head of a donkey in the hopes that Titania would fall in love with Bottom. (PUCK and BOTTOM reenter with donkey head.) BOTTOM: If I were fair, Thisbe, I were only thine. (TITANIA wakes up.) TITANIA: What angel wakes me from my flowery bed? I love thee! (PUCK runs off, laughing.) BOTTOM: Methinks, mistress, you should have little reason for that! (BOTTOM starts 8 to walk away. TITANIA s spell brings him back.) TITANIA: Out of this wood do not desire to go: Thou shalt remain here, whether thou wilt or no. I ll give thee fairies to attend on thee, Peaseblossom! Cobweb! Moth! and Mustardseed! (PEASEBLOSSOM, COBWEB, MOTH, and MUSTARD- SEED enter, giggling.) PEASEBLOSSOM (Bowing): Hail mortal! COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARDSEED (Bowing): Hail! ALL: Where shall we go? TITANIA: Lead him to my bower. (All exit.) MR. SILVER: Puck was eager to tell his master the news of Titania s new mate and his success in charming the Athenian described by Oberon. How now, mad spirit! My mistress with a monster is in love. This falls out better than I could devise. But hast thou yet latch d the Athenian s eyes With the love-juice, as I did bid thee do? I took him sleeping that is finish d too. (HERMIA and DEMETRIUS enter.) Stand close: this is the same Athenian.

This is the woman, but not this the man. Why rebuke you him that loves you so? Where is Lysander, give him to me! I had rather give his carcass to my hounds. I pray thee, tell me then that he is well. An if I could, what should I get therefore? A privilege never to see me more. (HERMIA stomps off.) There s no following her in this fierce vein. MR. SILVER: Because it was very late at night, Demetrius laid down to rest. Oberon ordered Puck to find Helena and bring her close to him. He then put the juice of the flower on Demetrius eyelids to make him fall in love with Helena. About the wood go swifter than the wind, And Helena of Athens look thou find: By some illusion see thou bring her here: I ll charm his eyes against she do appear. I go, I go; look how I go, Swifter than arrow from the Tartar s bow. (PUCK runs off.) Flower of this purple dye, Sink in apple of his eye. (PUCK reenters.) MR. SILVER: Puck comes back with Helena being chased by Lysander. He thought it was terribly funny that Helena would now be loved by both Demetrius and Lysander. Captain of our fairy band, Helena is here at hand; And the youth, mistook by me, Lord, what fools these mortals be! Stand aside: the noise they make Will cause Demetrius to awake. Then will two at once woo one! (LYSANDER and HELENA enter.) DEMETRIUS (Awakening): O Helena, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine! O, let me kiss this princess! You are unkind, Demetrius; be not so; For you love Hermia; this you know I know: Lysander, keep thy Hermia; I will none. (HERMIA reenters.) MRS. RAY: By the time Hermia found Lysander, he and Demetrius were both in love with Helena. Lysander pushed Hermia away and competed with Demetrius for Helena s affection. Helena, I love thee; by my life, I do. I say I love thee more than he can do. Lysander, whereto tends all this? 9

Hang off, thou cat, thou burr! vile thing, let loose, Or I will shake thee from me like a serpent! Be certain, nothing truer; tis no jest That I do hate thee and love Helena. (LYSANDER and DEMETRIUS chase each other off stage, swordfighting.) MRS. RAY: Lysander and Demetrius decide to fight to the death for the love of Helena. Now Hermia turns her anger toward Helena. O me! you juggler! you canker-blossom! You thief of love! what, have you come by night And stolen my love s heart from him? Fie, fie! you puppet, you! Puppet? why so? ay, that way goes the game. How low am I, thou painted maypole? speak; How low am I? I am not yet so low But that my nails can reach unto thine eyes. Your hands than mine are quicker for a fray, My legs are longer though, to run away. (HERMIA chases HELENA off.) MR. SILVER: Oberon commands Puck to lead Demetrius and Lysander through the forest until they are exhausted and fall asleep. Up and down, up and down, I will lead them up and down: I am fear d in field and town: Goblin, lead them up and down. MRS. RAY: As night turned to morning, 10 Titania, Bottom, and the fairies went to bed. (TITANIA, CHANGELING, and BOTTOM enter, with PEASE- BLOSSOM, COBWEB, MOTH, MUS- TARDSEED, and other fairies in attendance. They yawn and lie down to rest.) MR. SILVER: Puck did his duty well: Lysander and Demetrius fell fast asleep in the same place. (They pantomime chasing each other. DEMETRIUS and LYSANDER sleep.) MRS. RAY: Helena and Hermia did the same. (HELENA and HERMIA enter and lie down near them.) MR. SILVER: At dawn, Oberon approached the sleeping Titania with Bottom, and he regretted that he played such a mean trick on her. He decided to take back the spell and give back the changeling boy. Titania woke and forgot that she was ever angry with Oberon. (OBERON enters.) Welcome, good Robin. See st thou this sweet sight? Her dotage now I do begin to pity: (He puts the flower juice on her eyelids.) Be as thou wast wont to be; See as thou wast wont to see: Now, my Titania; wake you, my sweet queen. (TITANIA and fairies wake and stand up.) TITANIA: My Oberon! what visions have I seen! Robin, take off this head. (PUCK takes head off. BOTTOM runs away. TITANIA and CHANGELING, OBERON and fairies walk off, laughing. PUCK squeezes the juice of the flower onto eyelids of DEMETRIUS, HELENA, LYSANDER, and HER- MIA, who are still sleeping.) On the ground

Sleep sound: I ll apply To your eye, Gentle lover, remedy. When thou wakest, Thou takest True delight In the sight Of thy former lady s eye: Jack shall have Jill; Nought shall go ill. (All exit.) MR. SILVER: The next morning Hermia, Helena, Demetrius, and Lysander were found by Egeus, Theseus and Hippolyta. They were in big trouble for running away. EGEUS: My lord, this is my daughter here asleep; And this, Lysander; this Demetrius is; This Helena. THESEUS: Good morrow, friends. Saint Valentine is past: I pray you all, stand up. EGEUS: I beg the law, the law, upon his head. MR. SILVER: The sleepy couples woke up to find that their problems were solved. Lysander was in love with Hermia and Demetrius was in love with Helena. My love to Hermia, Melted as the snow The object and the pleasure of mine eye, Is only Helena. (All exit.) MRS. RAY: And since Theseus and Hippolyta were getting married, they decided to make it a triple wedding! MR. SILVER: Bottom was chosen to perform at the wedding. MAY 2006 PHILOSTRATE: A tedious brief scene of young Pyramus And his love Thisbe; very tragical mirth. BOTTOM: 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: Now die, die, die, die, die. (BOTTOM has a prolonged death scene and drags himself offstage.) MR. SILVER and MRS. RAY: And they all lived happily, magically ever after. MRS. RAY: I guess they re finally asleep. MR. SILVER (Yawning): It s about time. (MRS. RAY and MR. SILVER exit. Curtain closes to a small break. PUCK enters through break, looks left and right, then moves to front center to address audience.) If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumber d here While these visions did appear. Give me your hands, if we be friends, And Robin shall restore amends. (PUCK puts flower juice on TEDDY s sleeping eyelids. He stands back and surveys the scene with glee.) TEDDY (Sleepily): Andy? ANDY: Yeah. TEDDY: That was a good story. ANDY: Yup. TEDDY: Andy? ANDY: Yeah. 11

TEDDY: Ellen s kind of cool, right? ANDY: Uh-huh. TEDDY: So, how about you can have Amy and I ll take Ellen? ANDY: Cool. TEDDY: Cool. ANDY: Good night, Teddy. TEDDY: Good night, Andy. (PEASE- BLOSSOM enters with fairies. She taps PUCK on the shoulder, waves teasingly and runs over to AMY and ELLEN. She squeezes flower juice on the girls eyelids. The girls sit up.) ELLEN: Amy, are you awake? ELLEN: I was just thinking. Teddy and Andy are pretty cool, but... AMY: But... ELLEN: What about James and Ralph? AMY: They are really cool. ELLEN: Why don t you sleep over at my house tomorrow night and we ll call them! AMY: Great idea! ELLEN: Good night, Amy. AMY: Good night, Ellen. Sweet dreams! (Fairies giggle. PUCK makes a fist and chases them offstage.) THE END AMY: I am now. PRODUCTION NOTES A Midsummer Night s Sleepover CHARACTERS: 3 male, 3 female for sleepover party. 17 male and female for bedtime story characters. PLAYING TIME: 30 minutes. COSTUMES: Pajamas for present-day characters. Appropriate costumes for Shakespearean players. PROPERTIES: Video games; books; vial of flower juice ; donkey head (may be made of papier-mache). SETTING: In front of closed curtain at left is a boy s room set up for a sleepover, with two sleeping bags in front of a night table with a lamp, cell phone, and storybook. In front of curtain right is a girl s room set up for a sleepover, with two sleeping bags, stuffed animals, in front of a night table with a lamp, cell phone, and storybook. There is a chair next to each night table. Each room is strewn with sleepover junk chip bags, soda, candy wrappers, etc. Trees can be brought onto the stage as soon as the dream action begins. LIGHTING and SOUND: No special effects. 12