Midsummer: Videos

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The following are clips from the 2012 Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at Shakespeare's Globe.

Act 1, Scene 1

(Your students can access this video at: youtube.com/watch?v=b8Zeffi509U)

'I woo'd thee with my sword,/And won thy love, doing thee injuries;/But I will wed thee in another key...'

In the opening scene of the play, Hippolyta and Theseus meet to discuss their upcoming nuptials. Egeus comes before the Duke with a suit: that has daughter Hermia should follow his wishes and marry Demetrius. Hermia, however, loves Lysander.

 

Act 1, Scene 2

(Your students can access this video at: youtube.com/watch?v=0s6A3yP3kCs)

'We will meet; and there we may rehearse most
obscenely and courageously...'

Having assigned the parts for their performance, the Mechanicals go their separate ways. The scene then changes to the forest setting of Act 2, Scene 1.

Act 2, Scene 1

(Your students can access this video at: youtube.com/watch?v=_1i6gl1zlz0)

'Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania...'

Titania and Oberon meet in the forest. They discuss the current state of the natural world, currently afflicted with trouble due to their tumultuous own relationship.

Act 3, Scene 1

(Your students can access this video at: youtube.com/watch?v=93OPxoYgG_I)

'O Bottom, thou art changed!'

The Mechanicals meet to rehearse in the woods. The rehearsals do not go to plan. They abruptly end when Puck transforms Bottom into a donkey and the others flee in fear.

 

Act 3, Scene 1

(Your students can access this video at: youtube.com/watch?v=TUA97mMFkY4)

'I see their knavery: this is to make an ass of me...'

Left alone, Bottom sings to himself and awakes Titania. Having had Puck's potion sprinkled on her eyes, Titania falls in love with the first thing she sees: Bottom.

 

Act 3, Scene 2

(Your students can access this video at: youtube.com/watch?v=Cf77Pg2oi9Y)

'And though she be but little, she is fierce...'

The lovers reunite in the woods, Puck's potion taking effect. Lysander and Demetrius, once in love with Hermia, now dote on Helena. The two boys quarrel over love, while the two girls quarrel over hate.

Act 4, Scene 1

(Your students can access this video at: youtube.com/watch?v=ZxCWQxOFUZE)

'It shall be called Bottom's Dream, because it hath no bottom...'

Puck removes the enchantment from Bottom, who awakes believing it was all a dream.

Notes

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