A dream like quality hung in the air during the first meeting of the year.
Peter Newbury a teacher of Shakespeare to both children and adults introduced members to ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’
Peter took his audience through the comedy which is believed to have been written between 1590 and 1596. It has a complicated plot portraying the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus and the Amazon Queen Hippolyta. This is the basis of three interconnecting stories.
Hermia is in love with Lysander and refuses her father’s demand to marry Demetrius or else face death by an ancient Athenian law. Her friend Helena however pines unrequitedly for Demetrius. The Mechanicals meanwhile, (Peter Quince and his players) plan to put on a play for the royal wedding choosing the story of Thisbe, the Lion and Pyramus.
Meanwhile the King and Queen of the fairies Oberon and Titania are estranged so Puck is summoned to work magic by using the juice from a flower called ‘love in idleness.’ Mischievously he administers it to Lysander which causes further confusion with the lovers, although eventually all is resolved. However Bottom, one of the players, dons an asses head and upon waking Titania falls in love with him.
In the end Puck ‘restores amends’ and the characters are left believing it all to be a dream.
Peter explained the story so magically and in such detail his audience was captivated and hoped he would return for another spell binding evening of Shakespeare.
Next month’s meeting is the election of president and committee.
Liz Lee
