A Midsummer Night's Dream (6 page)

‘'Cause the candle'd
satellite
to him,' whooped Demetrius.

‘You're just trying to
crater
disturbance,' growled Lysander.

‘I didn't
planet
,' rejoined Demetrius, seismic with mirth.

On stage, unnoticed, the play reached its tragic end. The audience quelled its laughter as Bottom stepped forward, peering to where Theseus was seated. ‘Would you care to hear our epilogue, sir, or watch a dance performed by two of the company?'

Theseus shook his head. ‘No epilogue, young man. Your play is a total tragedy, beautifully performed. Let's see the dance.'

As two of the players danced, Theseus turned to his guests. ‘It's gone midnight – time to hit the sack.' He smiled. ‘I won't be surprised if one or two of us sleep late in the morning.'

The company rose and dispersed, leaving the students to pack up their props.

With the mortals gone, and the house dark and silent, Puck appeared. He carried a broom, with which he commenced to sweep up the party debris.

As the elf worked, Titania and Oberon appeared, their quarrel suspended in the happiness of the occasion. Triple weddings don't happen every day, and the bestowal of so many blessings was going to require all of their energy, leaving none to fuel a grudge.

The fairy attendants flitted from room to room, dancing and singing to bring good fortune to the house, while Oberon and
Titania crept upstairs to bless the sleeping couples. This done, all departed as silently as they'd come, leaving the mortals to their sleep, and to their dreams.

There was no tradition of theatre-going in my working-class family, and I was never exposed to Shakespeare in my youth. Because of this, I have always had difficulty in extracting meaning from the Bard's intricate language while watching a performance. I can sort it out when reading a play: I go ‘
huh
…
what's that he's saying
?' and read the passage again. And, if necessary, again. On stage it's there, then it's gone, and here comes another fancy bit.

I was delighted therefore to be asked to write a simplified prose interpretation of
A Midsummer Night's Dream
, my favourite
Shakespeare play. I feel that if I'd read something like this before seeing the play on stage, I'd have had a clearer idea of what was going on, and been free to revel in the playwright's matchless poetry. I hope this little book will help somebody do just that, and even pass an exam in it!

Meanwhile, I've had fun telling friends I'm having to rewrite Shakespeare because he made such a mess of it. Trouble is, they all know I'm more of an ass than Bottom the weaver, and none of 'em is buying my yarn.

Truth is, I'd trade every line I've ever written, and will ever write, for just one of his.

First published 2009 by
A & C Black Publishers Ltd
36 Soho Square, London, W1D 3QY

www.acblack.com

Text copyright © 2009 Robert Swindells
Illustrations copyright © 2009 Tomislav Tomic

The rights of Robert Swindells and Tomislav Tomic to be identified as author and illustrator of this work respectively have been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyrights, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Print ISBN: 978-1-40810-436-1
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-40815-342-0

A CIP catalogue for this book is available from the British Library.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means – graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems – without the prior permission in writing of the publishers.