In 1890s Monte Athena, in the
Kingdom of Italy, as Duke
Theseus and
Hippolyta's wedding banquet preparations are underway, young
Hermia's father
Egeus approaches him. He requests the Duke support his promise of his daughter's hand to
Demetrius, at threat of her death if she does not comply. Theseus gives Hermia four days to choose to marry Demetrius, join a convent or die. As the lovers
Lysander and Hermia are forbidden to marry, the pair make plans to flee to the forest to escape the arrangement. They confide in Hermia's friend
Helena, who is in anguish over Demetrius because she is desperately in love with him after they had had an affair. Meanwhile, theater director
Peter Quince assigns parts to his upcoming production based on the tragedy of
Pyramus and Thisbe. After the townspeople make a mockery of actor
Nick Bottom, the acting troupe decide to take rehearsals to the forest. Helena informs Demetrius of Hermia and Lysander's plan, then follows him into the woods like a lovesick puppy. He tries to disuade her, but she persists as her love is more of an obsession. Once in the forest, they wander into the fairy world, ruled by
Oberon and
Titania, King and Queen of the fairies. Oberon observes them and he and his servant sprite
Puck cause mayhem using a potion made of a special flower. It, when applied to the eyes, makes the person fall in love with the first person they see. Oberon puts it on Titania's eyes. Puck uses the magic potion on Lysander while he sleeps, and Helena wakes him, fearing him dead. He suddenly forgets about Hermia, chasing Helena through the woods. Meanwhile, the acting troupe, preparing the play for the entertainment of the Duke, rehearse in the forest. The mischievous Puck magically enchants Bottom with the head of a donkey and he is then seen by the bewitched Titania. She woos him in her bower, attended by fairies. Upon Oberon's orders, Puck uses the magic potion on the sleeping Demetrius. He also falls in love with Helena, creating a rift between the four of them that ultimately culminates in a mud-wrestling confrontation. Oberon tires of the sport and restores order, pairing Lysander back with Hermia using another flower to undo the spell. Demetrius is let be with Helena, and he reconciles with his own queen Titania with the second flower. Theseus and Hippolyta's riding party comes across the couples sleeping naked in a field. As the couples declare their love, Demetrius with Helena and Lysander with Hermia, the Duke and future bride invite the other couples to also wed in their ceremony, much to Egeus' chagrin. Bottom also wakes in a field, transformed back into fully human form. What happened with the fairy seems a dream. However, he is left a gold ring that has a woodland appearance. Bottom and his troupe of "
rude mechanicals" perform their amateur play before Duke Theseus, his wife Hippolyta, the other two couples and the court at the wedding celebration, producing a tragedy that unintentionally turns into a comedy. As the newlywed couples consummate their marriages, the fairies bless their unions. == Cast ==