大象传媒

Act 1

Titania, Queen of the Fairies, has parted from her husband Oberon after a quarrel over an Indian page. Two of her attendant fairies urge her to abandon her palace for the beauties of the countryside (鈥楥ome, let us leave the town鈥�), but Titania prefers her entertainment in human form, ordering them to torment any mortal who dares come near until they confess their faults. Three drunken poets provide perfect victims, only released from attack when one confesses that he is indeed 鈥榓 scurvy poet鈥�.

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Act 2

Titania transforms the moonlit forest into a fairy grotto, where she is entertained by the songs and dances of her followers (鈥楽ing while we trip it upon the green鈥�). The queen commands a lullaby, and Night, Mystery, Secrecy and Sleep step forward to perform it. Oberon, taking advantage of Titania鈥檚 sleep, slips into the grotto and squeezes juice from a magic flower onto her eyes.

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Act 3

Titania, under the influence of Oberon鈥檚 magic, has fallen in love with the ass-headed Bottom. She commands her fairies to dance and sing for his pleasure (鈥業f love鈥檚 a sweet passion鈥�). The shepherd Coridon enters with shepherdess Mopsa. He is determined to steal kisses and more from her, but Mopsa is equally determined to permit no such thing (鈥楴ow the maids and the men are making of hay鈥�). The entertainment ends with a song (鈥楢 thousand, thousand ways we鈥檒l find)鈥� and a lively Hornpipe.

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Act 4

Oberon wakens Titania and Bottom and releases them from his enchantment. He asks his queen for music to celebrate his birthday, and she agrees (鈥楴ow the night鈥�/鈥楲et the fifes and the clarions鈥�). The fairy masque continues with the appearance of Phoebus from the clouds (鈥榃hen a cruel long winter鈥�), and that of the Seasons, who take it in turns to sing their story.

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Act 5

Oberon commands a masque to celebrate the marriages of the young Athenians Hermia and Lysander and Helena and Demetrius. First Juno appears to sing a wedding song (鈥楾hrice happy lovers鈥�), which is followed by a plaint for a departed lover (鈥極 let me ever, ever weep鈥�). Oberon now conjures up a Chinese Man who sings another song of love (鈥榊es, Daphne鈥�), and two Chinese Women who sing of the joys of the earth (鈥楬ark! now all things鈥�). The masque ends with a lively dance (鈥楾hey shall be as happy鈥�).