A Midsummer Night's Dream

Music by Felix Mendelssohn
Choreography by Graham Lustig
Costumes by A. Christina Gianninni
Lighting by Alexander V. Nichols

World Premiere: March 2000 by American Repertory Ballet

Graham Lustig's unusual and creative staging of William Shakespeare's comedic masterpiece begins with the marital spat of the King and Queen of the Fairies, Oberon and Titania. At the heart of their quarrel is the custody of a beautiful changeling child. "Not for thy fairy kingdom" answers Titania to Oberon's request.

Not happy at with this answer, Oberon sends Puck, his trickster servant, on the mission of his revenge. He is to bring Oberon the ingredients of a powerful love potion. Oberon plans to cause Titania to fall in love with a beast, and then hold the antidote ransom in exchange for the child they both covet.

As Puck goes through the woods, he comes across a group of commoners preparing a play to present at the nuptials of the Duke of Athens. In a moment of mischief (of which Puck has many) he transforms Nick Bottom, a weaver, into a donkey. Disconsolate, Bottom wanders through the woods where ultimately he awakens Titania, by this time well dosed with Oberon's love potion. Upon seeing Bottom, the Fairy Queen falls deeply in love with him.

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