A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Abridged)

A comedy by William Shakespeare
Co-directed by Ms. N. Bryant and Ms. C. McCourt
Crestwood Preparatory College, gymnasium
Thursday, April 21st and Friday, April 22nd

AUDITIONS: Thursday, January 21st and Friday, January 22nd
Room 110 (Drama Room)

Acting auditions will consist of a 30-second prepared monologue and cold readings from the script. Auditions are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Synopsis: Shakespeare’s intertwined love stories are complicated from the start: Demetrius and Lysander both want Hermia, but she only has eyes for Lysander. Unfortunately, Hermia’s father wants Demetrius for a son-in-love. On the outside is Helena, whose love for Demetrius is unreturned. Hermia and Lysander plan to flee the city but are pursued by an enraged Demetrius (who is himself pursued by an enraptured Helena). In the forest, unbeknownst to the mortals, Oberon and Titania (King and Queen of the Fairies) are fighting. The plots twists when Oberon’s servent, the mischievious Puck, runs loose with a flower which causes people to fall in love with the first thing they see upon waking. Throw in a group of actors preparing a play for the Duke’s wedding, and the complications become fantastically funny.

CHARACTERS:
The Athenians
Theseus, Duke of Athens
Egeus, father of Hermia
Lysander, in love with Hermia
Demetrius, in love with Hermia
Philostrate, Master of Revels to Theseus
Hippolyta, Queen of the Amaons, betrothed to Theseus
Hermia, daughter to Egeus, in love with Lysander
Helena, in love with Demetrius

The Actors
Peter Quince, a carpenter; Prologue in the play
Snug, the joiner; Lion in the play
Nick Bottom, a weaver; Pyramus in the play
Francis Flute, a bellows mender; Thisby in the play
Tom Snout, a tinker; Wall in the play
Robin Starveling, a tailor; Moonshine in the play

The Fairies
Oberon, King of the Fairies
Titania, Queen of the Fairies
Puck, or Robin Goodfellow
Peaseblossom, Fairy
Cobweb, Fairy
Moth, Fairy
Mustardseed, Fairy

Rehearsals begin immediately and will take place after school. If cast, 100% commitment is expected of all actors.