Script Midsummer

SHAKESPEARE’S PLAYS

1595: Romeo and Juliet

1595: A midsummer night’s dream

1597: The Merchant of Venice

1605: Macbeth.

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

INTRODUCTION

Characters:

(1)   SHAKESPEARE : Juan Gabriel

(2)   QUEEN ELIZABETH I: Raquel

(3)   PAINTER (Nicholas Hilliard): Abel

(4)   MAIDS OF HONOUR: Margaret Radcliffe (Carmen Merino) y Mary Howard (Sofía)

(5)   SERVANT: Tamara

Things we need for the stage:

(1)   Armchair

(2)   Easel (caballete)

(3)   Painter’s palette and paint brush

SCRIPT

(Queen Elizabeth I is sitting on an armchair talking to her maids of honour, Margaret Radcliffe and Mary Howard, while she is having a portrait painted by Nicholas Hilliard)

QUEEN ELIZABETH: I want my face in the painting to be young and beautiful.

MARY HOWARD: Sure it will!

SERVANT (presenta a William Shakespeare): Sir William Shakespeare.

SHAKESPEARE: (hace reverencia): Your majesty.

QUEEN ELIZABETH: I am very pleased to see you.

SHAKESPEARE: The pleasure is all mine.

QUEEN ELIZABETH: I want to throw a party for my birthday and I would like to have one of your best plays performed that day.

SHAKESPEARE: Let me think... What about Romeo and Juliet?

MARGARET RADCLIFFE: What a wonderful play!!

QUEEN ELIZABETH: ...but we have seen it.

MARY HOWARD: Anything else? We would like something funnier.

PAINTER: I saw a play last week at a wedding, and it was a success. I can’t remember the name.

SHAKESPEARE: It must have been A midsummer night’s dream.

PAINTER: Hear-hear.

MARGARET RADCLIFFE: I heard it was wonderful.

MARY HOWARD: What is it about?

SHAKESPEARE: It is a play about two young couples of Athenian boys and girls and a group of amateur actors who have been controlled by the fairies who perform magic on them and strange things start to happen. 

MARY HOWARD: It is great to see a mixture of reality and that of a fairytale, isn’t it?

QUEEN ELIZABETH: Fairytale? It sounds marvellous.

MARGARET RADCLIFFE: This sounds like a fun play. Tell us more about it.

SHAKESPEARE: Firstly, there are two girls called Hermia and Helena. Helena loves a handsome man called Demetrius, but Demetrius loves the other girl, Hermia. However, Hermia is in love with another man called Lysander who is also in love with her.

PAINTER: ... and all this trouble leads to a conflict between them.

SHAKESPEARE: Yes, in fact, Hermia’s father wants her to marry Demetrius and threatens to kill her if she refuses to marry him. That’s why Hermia and Lysander plan to escape far away in order to get married.

QUEEN ELIZABETH: (con ironía) And do they live happily ever after??? That ending is very common. I don’t think it will be a funny play. I don’t want it for my birthday.

SHAKESPEARE: It does not end there. Helena is so desperate to regain Demetrius’ love that she tells him about the plan. Demetrius follows them to kill Lysander and Helena follows him promising to love him more than Hermia. But he rejects her and he is very cruel to her.

QUEEN ELIZABETH: Poor girl... It’s always so sad when you love someone who doesn’t love you back. I can’t see the funny side to that.

PAINTER: Maybe you should tell them about the play within the play.

QUEEN ELIZABETH: A play within a play?

MARY HOWARD: That sounds really interesting!

SHAKESPEARE: Well, everyone in the city is getting ready for a wonderful celebration. In a few days, the Duke Theseus is going to marry the beautiful Hippolita. There is a group of men that are practising a play in the forest. They want to perform this play at the wedding. 

MARGARET RADCLIFFE: Marvellous!

PAINTER: Well, I have to say that they are not the best actors in the world – in fact they are very bad. But they try and do their best.

QUEEN ELIZABETH: and what about fairyland?

SHAKESPEARE: In Fairyland we have a band of fairies including Oberon and Titania, king and queen of the fairies. They love each other very much but they have been arguing and they are a little upset with each other.

QUEEN ELIZABETH: Why???

PAINTER: Because Titania doesn’t allow Oberon to have an Indian boy as a servant.

QUEEN ELIZABETH: Oh... what a shame!

SHAKESPEARE: Seeking for revenge, Oberon asks his servant Puck to help him to find a magical flower.

QUEEN ELIZABETH: A magical flower??

PAINTER: It is said that if you put the juice of this flower into someone’s eyes while they are sleeping, that person will fall in love with the first living creature he or she sees when they awaken.

QUEEN ELIZABETH: What does he want it for?

SHAKESPEARE: He wants to put the juice into Titania’s eyes in order to make her fall in love with something horrible and allow him to have the Indian boy as servant.

MARGARET RADCLIFFE: But what is the connection between humans and the fairyland then? I can’t see it myself.

PAINTER: Oberon has observed how cruel Demetrius is to Helena and asks Puck to put the juice into his eyes to make him fall in love with Helena.

QUEEN ELIZABETH: That is wonderful. No woman deserves to be treated badly by a man.

MARY HOWARD: And does he fall in love with her?

SHAKESPEARE: Well, Puck makes a mistake and puts the juice into Lysander’s eyes.

MARGARET RADCLIFFE: And what happens next?

PAINTER: Helena is the first girl Lysander sees when he wakes up and immediately falls in love with her.

MARY HOWARD: Oh, my God!

SHAKESPEARE: When Oberon realises Puck’s mistake, he sends Puck to find Helena while he charms Demetrius’ eyes.

QUEEN ELIZABETH: I see. Now both men are in loved with Helena. What a lucky girl!

MARGARET RADCLIFFE: Oh dear, maybe you should use some of that juice on your eyes to allow you to fall in love with someone at once.

MARY HOWARD: Hear-hear

QUEEN ELIZABETH: No way!

PAINTER: Anyway, Helena thinks that it was all a part of a joke.

MARGARET RADCLIFFE: What happens with Hermia?

SHAKESPEARE: She doesn’t understand why Lysander doesn’t love her. In fact, the four of them quarrel with each other, even Lysander and Demetrius seek a place to fight.

QUEEN ELIZABETH: Really? Do they fight in order to prove whose love for Helena is greater?? That would be my dream come true!!

SHAKESPEARE: Let’s say that Oberon and Puck will try to fix the mess before that happens. Now your majesty it is time for me to leave.

QUEEN ELIZABETH: But wait a moment...What happens with Titania?

MARY HOWARD:  Who is the first person she sees when she wakes up?

QUEEN ELIZABETH: Is it a fairy? Is it a human?

PAINTER: In fact...It is neither a fairy nor a human, I have to say.

QUEEN ELIZABETH: What do you mean?

PAINTER: She falls in love with a kind of animal

MARY HOWARD AND MARGARET RADCLIFFE: A kind of animal?

QUEEN ELIZABETH: Really?

SHAKESPEARE: A donkey, in fact.

MARY HOWARD AND MARGARET RADCLIFFE: A donkey????

QUEEN ELIZABETH: How is that possible?

SHAKESPEARE: Do you remember the group of actors who were rehearsing a play for the wedding?

MARGARET RADCLIFFE: Yes, of course.

SHAKESPEARE: They arrange to rehearse the play in the forest, near where Titania is sleeping. One of the actors, called Bottom, is so enthusiastic about the play that he wants to play several characters at the same time. That’s why Puck plays a trick on him and turns his head into that of a donkey. When the other actors see him, they run away quickly. Bottom has no idea what is happening and decides to sing while waiting for his friends.

PAINTER: So, Bottom is the first person that Titania sees when she wakes up because of his horrible singing and immediately falls in love with him.

QUEEN ELIZABETH: That is quite funny. What happens at the end?

SHAKESPEARE: I think, your majesty, you will have to wait until your birthday party.

MARY HOWARD: Hear-hear!

LADY RADCLIFFE: It will be a surprise.

QUEEN ELIZABETH: Oh dear, the suspense will kill me until then.

SCENE:

Characters:

Oberon (king of fairies): Jorge

Puck (goblin = duende): Noelia

Titania (Queen of faires): Pilar

Bottom: Camila

Titania’s servant: Macarena

Demetrius: Jaime

Helena: Elena

Lysander: Marta

Hermia: Andrea

OBERON: When I have the juice of that flower I will put some drops into Titania’s eyes while she is sleeping. Then, she will fall in love with the first thing she sees when she wakes up. And I will make her give me that Indian boy. (Escucha ruido) Who is coming ? (se esconde). 

(Entran Demetrius y Helena)

DEMETRIUS: Where are Lysander and the beautiful Hermia? I will kill Lysander and I will bring Hermia back to Athens. She will be my wife. Come on, Helena, go away. Just looking at you makes me sick. Don’t follow me (empuja a Helena y ésta cae al suelo. Demetrius se va)

HELENA: Please, Demetrius! I want to come with you. (se levanta y se dirige al público con mucha pena) The more I love him, the more he hates me (sale).

OBERON: Poor sweet lady. (preguntando al público) Do you think I should help her? (espera a la respuesta del público). Of course. I can make him fall in love with her.

(entra Puck con la flor)

OBERON: Do you have the magic flower?

PUCK: Yes, here it is.

OBERON: Excellent! I’ll put the juice of this flower into Titania’s eyes. She will wake up, and she will fall in love... with anything.

PUCK: A wonderful plan, my king.

OBERON: You will take some of this too. There is a sweet Athenian lady who is in love with a young man who wants nothing to do with her. She is heart-broken. Put some of this flower’s juice into his eyes, and make sure that that young lady is the first person he sees when he wakes up.

(salen cada uno por un lado).

(entran Lysander y Hermia)

LYSANDER: Hermia, my love, you look tired. We have been walking for such a long time. We should rest. 

HERMIA: Yes, that is a good idea, Lysander. Good night, my sweet love. I hope your love for me remains for the rest of your life.

LYSANDER: Of course, dear. I will always love you. Sleep well!

(entra Puck por la parte de atrás del salón de actos, buscando a los jóvenes atenienses).

PUCK: (dirigéndose a alguien del público) Are you the Athenian man? Of course not, you are not wearing Athenian clothes. (dirigiéndose a alguien del público). Oh, maybe you should use the juice from this flower to make someone love you, chum. (subiendo al escenario). I’ve been through the entire forest, but I haven’t found any Athenian man. Where are they? (por fin, ve a los atenienses): Wait a second, who is this? This must be the Athenian man. And here’s the young lady. Well, she loves him, but he hates her, so I will put the flower juice into his eyes. You will wake up, you will see her and you will fall in love with her (sale)

DEMETRIUS: (entra Demetrius corriendo y sale por la otra parte del escenario): Please, leave me alone.

HELENA: Please, wait for me! (llega Helena cansada y ve a Lysander): Who is there? Lysander? Are you alright?

LYSANDER: Oh beautiful Helena! You are so lovely. You are the most beautiful woman in the world and you are looking at me. How lucky I am! (se levanta rápidamente) Where is Demetrius? I will kill him.

HELENA: Don’t say that, Lysander. Don’t be angry with Demetrius. He loves Hermia but Hermia only loves you, so be happy.

LYSANDER: Happy? I am not interested in Hermia. I love you, Helena.

HELENA: You must be joking and that’s not funny. Don’t joke about this.

LYSANDER: It is not a joke. I love you.

HELENA: That’s too much. First Demetrius ran away from me and now you are laughing at me.  (se va corriendo)

LYSANDER: I will show you that my love is true. (sale detrás de Helena).

(entran Oberon y Puck)

OBERON: Titania must be completely in love with something horrible by now.

PUCK: In fact, she is in love with a monster.

OBERON: Really?

PUCK:  While she was sleeping, a group of men got together to rehearse some play. I took the most stupid one and I put a donkey’s head on him. At that moment, Titania woke up and immediately fell in love with him.

(entran Titania y Bottom, con la cabeza de burro)

TITANIA: Can you sing that lovely song again?

BOTTOM: (empieza a cantar, tiene un voz horrible).

MACARENA (se tapa los oidos) How awful!

TITANIA: (aplaudiendo) Wonderful, wonderful!! Your song is so lovely. I know this is the first time I’ve ever seen you but I don’t why, I love you!!

BOTTOM: Me? Do you love me? This is a dream and it is a very good dream. 

TITANIA: (se para y lo mira fijamente): You are so handsome!!!

BOTTOM: (dirigiéndose al público) Yes, I am. I am wondeful and you know it! (salen del escenario cogidos de la mano).

MACARENA: Oh my God! What can she see in this horrible looking donkey!! She must be crazy!! (sale detrás de ellos)

OBERON: This is even better than I planned. Titania is in love with an ugly donkey... But did you help the young lady from Athens? Did you put the love juice on the eyes of that man who didn’t love her, as I asked you to do?

PUCK: Yes, I found him when he was asleep. I will also lend some juice to that boy / girl over there (señalando a la misma persona del público a la que le ha bromeado sobre el jugo antes).

(De repente, Hermia se despierta de una pesadilla)

HERMIA:: Oh my God! Lysander! What a terrible dream! Lysander???? Where are you?

OBERON a PUCK: Shhhhhhh!!! (se apartan)

(entra Demetrius)

DEMETRIUS: Hermia? My love! I found you!

HERMIA: Demetrius? Where is Lysander?

DEMETRIUS: Forget about Lysander. Come with me. You are going to be my wife.

HERMIA: Listen to me. I don’t love you. I will never marry you. Where is Lysander? (muy enfadada) Did you kill him?

DEMETRIUS: Of course, not!

HERMIA: Is he alright?

DEMETRIUS: I don’t know.

HERMIA: I don’t want to see you ever again

DEMETRIUS: Why are you so rude to someone who loves you so much? I didn’t kill Lysander.

HERMIA: I have to find him. (sale)

DEMETRIUS: Well, I can’t go after her when she is so angry. I’ll try to sleep a little here. (Demetrius se queda dormido).

OBERON: What have you done? You’ve made a mistake. You put the juice into the eyes of the wrong man. We must fix this mess. I will put some flower juice on Demetrius’ eyes. Go and find Helena, bring her here. She must be the first girl he sees when he wakes up. (pone el jugo en los ojos de Demetrius): Now you will love Helena, you will only love Helena.

(entran Helena y Lysander)

PUCK: Here, she is. But she is not alone. (dirigiéndose al público): Now both men will pursue the same girl. That will be funny.

HELENA: Stop joking and leave me alone.

LYSANDER: Why do you think I’m making fun of you when I tell you I love you?

HELENA: You have made the same promises to me and to Hermia.

LYSANDER: (a la audiencia) That’s what women are like. Demetrius loves Hermia and I love her, what is the problem?

(Demetrius se despierta).

DEMETRIUS: Is it a fairy or a princess? No, it’s Helena. Did I really run away from her? I was very wrong. She’s is wonderful! Helena! My love! My queen! I want to kiss you.

LYSANDER: Come on, Demetrius, we all know that you love Hermia. She is yours. I only love Helena (coge la mano de Helena)

DEMETRIUS: Lysander, keep your Hermia, I don’t want her. Now I’ll love Helena forever. She is my true love (cogiendo la otra mano de Helena)

HELENA:  Oh, no! Now you are both laughing at me! (se suelta)

LYSANDER: It is me who really love you Helena and I will love you until I die.

HERMIA: (entra Hermia): What is happening here? Lysander? What’s happened to you, my love? Why did you leave me? Is it true that you love Helena?

LYSANDER: Yes, I am afraid I do...

HERMIA: What do you mean? Didn’t you promise me true love forever?

LYSANDER: I don’t love you. I love Helena now. These things happen, darling.

HERMIA: (dirigiéndose a Helena) Why does he love you now? What did you do to him?  (quiere pegarle pero Helena se esconde detrás de Demetrius y Lysander).

DEMETRIUS: (apartando a Hermia) Anyway... Did I say that I love her more than he does?

LYSANDER: Helena is mine. I’ll fight you, right now. Let’s go over there and fight (coge a Demetrius del brazo y salen)

HELENA: Are you are part of this joke too?? (sale detrás de ellos)

HERMIA: What are you talking about? What joke? (sale detrás de Helena)

Quedan en el escenario Oberon y Puck.

OBERON: Puck you have to remove the charm from Lysander. He must love Hermia again while Demetrius continues to love Helena.

(aparecen por el público Titania y Bottom cogidos de la mano, suben al escenario y se sientan en el borde).

OBERON: You have to take the donkey’s head away from Bottom. Titania has forgotten about me. I am starting to feel jealous of that horrible donkey. It is time to stop the magic. I want to regain her love (Sale) (entra Macarena)

MACARENA: Did you do this?

PUCK: I think this is funny.

MACARENA: Now you have to promise them (señala al público) a happy ending.

PUCK: But this is so amusing!

MACARENA: You must make everything right again. Use your magic to fix the mess.

PUCK: Joooo...

MACARENA: Promise me that Demetrius will continue to love Helena

PUCK: Aha

MACARENA: Lysander will love Hermia again

PUCK: Aha

MACARENA: ...and of course Titania will love Oberon again.

PUCK: It’s ok. I will rearrange everything in a way that makes them believe that this night was just a dream. (al público) and you, you were asleep when you saw this play and this story was nothing but a dream, a midsummer night’s dream. So good night everyone and give a round of applause, if we are friends.