One Summer Night Characters: (In Order of Appearance) Theseus: Duke of Athens Hippolyta: Amazon Queen, Theseus's Fiancé
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One Summer Night Characters: (in order of appearance) Theseus: Duke of Athens Hippolyta: Amazon Queen, Theseus’s fiancé Philostrate: Theseus’s assistant Egeus: Nobleman of Athens, father to Hermia Demetrius: Nobleman of Athens, betrothed to Hermia Lysander: Nobleman of Athens, in love with Hermia Hermia: Maiden of Athens, in love with Lysander Helena: Maiden of Athens, in love with Demetrius Oberon: King of the Fairies Puck: Oberon’s assistant a.k.a Robin Goodfellow Peaseblossom: One of Titania’s fairy entourage Moth: One of Titania’s fairy entourage Titania: Queen of the Fairies Mustardseed: One of Titania’s fairy entourage Cobweb: One of Titania’s fairy entourage Bottom: An amateur actor, and a weaver Quince: An amateur director, and a carpenter Flute: An amateur actor, and a leather craftsman Snout: An amateur actor, and a plumber Starveling An amateur actor, and a tailor + Various attendants to Theseus and Hippolyta Various Fairy attendants to Oberon and Titania Scene Breakdown: 1. Theseus’s court at Athens 2. Meeting Place of the Mechanicals 3. The Woods outside of Athens 4. Titania’s Lair 5. Mechanicals’ rehearsal in the Woods 6. Another part of the forest 7. Meeting place in Athens 8. The Palace at Athens !1 One Summer Night Songs: Lysander and Hermia: LOVE SONG #1 W/ SOME CHOREOGRAPHY “WOULDN’T IT BE NICE” BY THE BEACH BOYS** Helena: SAD LOVE SONG W/ SOME CHOREOGRAPHY “WHITE FLAG” BY DIDO Bottom & the Mechanicals: SELF-AGGRANDIZING SONG W/ CHOREOGRAPHY* “BECAUSE I’M AWESOME” BY THE DOLLYROTS ** Titania: ANTI-LOVE SONG W/ SOME CHOREOGRAPHY “YOU DON’T OWN ME” BY JOHN MADARA AND DAVID WHITE Fairies: DREAMY SONG #1 W/ CHOREOGRAPHY* “DREAM A LITTLE DREAM” BY FABIAN ANDRE, WILBUR SCHWANDT AND GUS KAHN ** Fairies: ANTI-LOVE SONG W/ SOME CHOREOGRAPHY “WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE” BY FRANKIE LYMON AND MORRIS LEVY** Bottom: LOUD OBNOXIOUS SONG (A CAPELLA) NA Titania: LOVE SONG #2 W/ SOME CHOREOGRAPHY “FEVER” BY EDDIE COOLEY AND OTIS BLACKWELL** Fairies: DREAMY SONG #2 W/ SOME CHOREOGRAPHY “ALL I HAVE TO DO IS DREAM” BY FELICE AND BOUDLEAUX BRYANT** Fairies: LOVE SONG #3 W/ CHOREOGRAPHY* “TRUE LOVE” BY PINK** Fairies: DREAMY SONG #3 W/ CHOREOGRAPHY* “SH BOOM” BY THE CREW CUTS** *need choreographer ** need musical coach !2 One Summer Night One Summer Night adapted from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare Scene 1: The court at Athens: Hippolyta and Theseus enter, fighting with swords. They are having fun, laughing and playing. They are clearly deeply and aggressively in love. Philostrate and other servants follow behind. Theseus: Hippolyta, you gorgeous Amazon, I cannot wait to marry you. Hippolyta: Well, you’ll have to. There are four days until the wedding. Theseus: I feel like it’s four months. I want you as my wife. Hippolyta: The days will turn into nights. And those nights will pass like a dream. And then the night of our wedding will arrive and the stars and the moon will appear again as witnesses to our love. (Theseus takes a deep breath and exhales, trying to control his passion) Theseus: Philostrate, go announce to all the people of Athens that, for the next four days, there should be nothing but merriment. Everyone must have fun and be happy. Do you hear me? There should be no sadness in the city while our wedding day approaches. Philostrate: As you wish sir. (exits) Theseus: Hippolyta, our love began with a battle and I won you with a fight. But our marriage will be a celebration unlike any other. It have everything! A proper ceremony… Hippolyta: And dancing… Theseus: And costumes! Hippolyta: And cake! Theseus: And barrels of wine! Egeus: (interrupting) Hello Duke! It’s nice to see you looking so energetic. Theseus: Egeus. What do you want? Egeus: My Lord, it hurts me to say it, but I have an accusation against my daughter Hermia. !3 One Summer Night (Hippolyta and Theseus exchange glances and smile in a knowing manner. Hippolyta exits, Theseus turns to Egeus. ) Theseus. Yes, go on. Egeus: She is refusing to marry the man I have chosen for her. Come here, Demetrius. (Demetrius struts forward) This man has my permission to marry her. Come here, Lysander. (Lysander walks over, unhappy but firm in his intentions) This man has bewitched my daughter! He has ensnared her heart with poems and gifts. You! You Lysander - you made her betray her duty to her father! She should be obedient to me, instead of fawning over you! (to Theseus) My noble duke, as you are the final word of justice, I have a request - I want to evoke the ancient privilege of Athens. Since my daughter belongs to me, she has to do what I say. She either marries Demetrius, or …or…she can die for all I care! Theseus: Okay, okay shhhh shhhh. Calm down. Egeus. Have a seat. Hermia. What’s your side of the story? Why aren’t you listening to your father? Remember that our laws dictate that you have to do whatever he says. Why are you rocking the boat? What’s wrong with Demetrius? He seems like a good man. Hermia: So is Lysander. Theseus: Not if your father doesn’t agree. Hermia: I only wish my father could see with my eyes. Theseus: Maybe you should try using some of his judgment. Hermia: My lord, I have a question. What is the worst thing that can happen to me if I refuse to marry Demetrius? Theseus: Well… legally…either you’ll be executed or, more likely, you have to become a nun. Hmmm? Think about it. Shut up in a dark convent forever. Saying prayers all day and night. Some people are cut out for that type of life. But, my dear girl, wouldn’t it be much better to get married and have children? Hermia: Not if I have to marry Demetrius. Theseus: Hermia, this is a very big decision. Take some time to think about this. You have four days - if you don’t agree to marry Demetrius, you’ll spend the rest of your life in the convent. Demetrius: Hermia, just say yes! Lysander, give up this pointless courtship. I’m the one her father wants. Lysander: Then why don’t you marry her father? Hermia loves me, Demetrius. Not you. Egeus: Don’t be snide, Lysander. It’s true: I feel a father’s love for Demetrius, and Hermia is my daughter. I say that they shall be married! !4 One Summer Night Lysander: My lord, I am just as worthy as Demetrius. I have property, money, and influence just as he does. What’s more, your daughter loves me. Doesn’t that count for anything? Why shouldn’t I fight for her? Theseus: Alright I’ve heard enough. Hermia, think about your options. If you don’t listen to your father, you will spend the rest of your life as a nun, locked in a convent with no earthly love to call your own. Not a nice idea. You have four days to decide. Demetrius and Egeus, You come with me. I have some business to discuss with you. Egeus: As you wish my lord (All exit but Lysander and Hermia. Their chemistry is as sweet and chaste as Theseus and Hippolyta’s is passionate) Hermia (breaking down) Oh God, Lysander. Why is does it have to be like this? Why can’t I choose the one I love? Lysander: The course of true love has never been smooth. Lovers have always had to overcome obstacles for all sorts of reasons. Hermia: I guess you’re right. We have to be patient. Suffering is as much a part of love as wishes and tears and dreams. Lysander: Listen, Hermia. I have an aunt outside of Athens. She is a widow with a huge house and no children, and she thinks of me as a son. She lives about twenty miles away from here, where Athenian laws don’t apply. If we go there, we can get married. We can be together and forget about everyone who stands in our way. Hermia: Lysander! Lysander: Will you come with me, Hermia? If you really love me, meet me in the woods tomorrow night, in the meadow where we met Helena for the May dance. Remember? We can run away together. Hermia: Oh Lysander! Yes! I will be there tomorrow, I swear to you. Lysander picks up Hermia and spins her around. They laugh with joy. (Lysander and Hermia sing LOVE SONG #1) Lysander: You really promise? (Hermia nods) Look, here comes Helena. Helena enters slowly, very depressed. At the sight of Lysander and Hermia holding hands, she sighs. Hermia: Helena! Why so glum? Where’s your beautiful smile? Helena: Don’t call me beautiful. Demetrius thinks I’m hideous. Oh Hermia, I would give the world to trade places with you, even for one day, just to hear Demetrius say that he loves me. Can you teach me how to make him want me? Hermia: What can I say? The more I tell him that I hate him, the more he follows me around like a puppy. !5 One Summer Night Helena: The more I tell him I love him, the more he avoids me. Hermia: Don’t worry, Helena. He’s not going to chase me anymore. Lysander and I are running away! Lysander: We’re meeting in the woods tomorrow…. Hermia: In the same place where you and I always used to play when we were kids… Lysander: And then we’re leaving Athens forever. Hermia: We’re eloping! Helena, my dear friend, wish us luck.