A Midsummer Night's Dream
1600
- drama
- courtship
- plays
- hippolyta (greek mythology)
- theseus (greek mythology)
- juvenile drama
- children's plays, english
- stage history
- textual criticism
- nonfiction
The story
One night two young couples run into an enchanted forest in an attempt to escape their problems. But these four humans do not realize that the forest is filled with fairies and hobgoblins who love making mischief. When Oberon, the Fairy King, and his loyal hobgoblin servant, Puck, intervene in human affairs, the fate of these young couples is magically and hilariously transformed. Like a classic fairy tale, this retelling of William Shakespeare's most beloved comedy is perfect for older readers who will find much to treasure and for younger readers who will love hearing the story read aloud.
What it’s like
Moonlit woods full of tangled green and sudden silver, with the play's bright comedy tilting toward dreamlike strangeness as lovers wander into an enchanted forest. The voice is Shakespeare's verse rendered for read-aloud: rhythmic, playful, full of fairy whimsy and rustic mechanicals, the sort of text that sounds best spoken in a quiet room. Mood is light and giddy, with a touch of romantic dizziness and a gentle, comic edge rather than real menace. Pacing is brisk and scene-to-scene, the four young lovers' confusions resolving into a happy tangle of pairings, a shape that suits reading aloud on a lazy afternoon, a bedtime story for children, or a warm evening with a glass of something cool. Intensity is very low: a few bumps, a donkey-headed mischief, some mild teasing and romantic pining, but no violence, gore, or sexual content on the page. It is an easy, charming companion for families reading together, for older readers who enjoy Shakespearean language, and for anyone wanting a gentle, mischievous comedy with fairy-tale glow.
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