Writer: William Shakespeare
Adapted by Richard Appignanesi
Art: Kate Brown
Publisher: Self Made Hero
What’s it about?
This is an adaptation of a William Shakespeare play. To my mind, it’s the most magical and comedic one.
Theseus
and Hippolyta are due to be married in Athens, Greece. Theseus' servant Egeus has a daughter named Hermia. Hermia and Lysander
are in love and wish to marry, however Egeus has decided that
Demetrius is an appropriate husband. Helena loves Demetrius but, as he
wants Hermia, he is not interested in Helena.
In
honour of Theseus and Hippolyta’s wedding a group of inept craftsmen
decide to put on a play about star-crossed lovers, Pyramus and Thisbe.
It’s a tragedy where the lovers kill themselves, so not entirely fit for
a wedding – I did say they were inept!
In
the forests of Athens the fairy court is in session. Oberon, King of
the fairies, and Titania, fairy Queen, are embroiled in an argument.
Oberon wants a human boy that Titania has adopted, but Titania won’t give him
up. Oberon plots revenge, and here is where the plots converge...
Oberon
gets his servant Puck to enchant Titania so she falls in love with the
first hideous thing she sees. Hermia and Lysander have run away to get
married and are pursued by Demetrius, who is in turn pursued by Helena.
Oberon witnesses this and instructs Puck to enchant Demetrius to fall
in love with Helena, except Puck gets it wrong and enchants Lysander
instead. The enchantment of Titania is successful, as Puck gives one of
the craftsmen, Bottom, a donkey’s head, and Titania falls for him.
This
takes up the first half of the play. The second half concerns the
humans and fairies trying to sort out the mess Puck has caused.
