Midsummer Nights Dream

For the Kiddos

Shakespeare for Elementary School Students
Cast of Characters
Oberon: King of the Fairies
Titania: Queen of the Fairies
Puck: Oberons Servant
The Duke: Duke of Athens
Hippolyta: Queen of the Amazons
Lysander: A nobleman
Demetrius: A nobleman
Helena: A noblewoman
Peter Q: A workman
Nicky B: A workman
Mechanical: A workman
Fairy Pink & Purple: Two servants of Titania
Egeus: A nobleman
Hermia: A noblewoman
MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM
At the Festival
The Duke and Hippolyta make a small speech to the
nobles (Hermia, Egeus, Demetrius, and Lysander)
DUKE
Welcome everybody! Im so glad everyone could make it
to Athens. As you know, the lovely Queen of the
Amazons, Hippolyta, and I will be married tomorrow.
HIPPOLYTA
Weve got a lot of things left to get finished, but
please make yourself at home and enjoy this beautiful
summer day.
The Duke and Hippolyta start to leave
EGEUS
Wait! Duke!
DUKE
Yes?
EGEUS
I have a big problem I hoped you could help with. My
daughter will not agree to marry the man I want her to
marry.
DUKE
Lysander?
EGEUS
No, no. Thats the man SHE wants to marry. I want her
to marry Demetrius. Hes a much better match and he
wants to marry her.
DUKE
I dont know what you want me to do about it.
EGEUS
Well I learned that there is this very old law in
Athens that says that if she does not marry the man I
want her to marry that you can kick her out of the
country!
DUKE
That is a very old law.
EGEUS
But its still a law!
2.
DUKE
Okay, how about this? She either marries Demetrius like
you want her to, or we send her to a nunnery.
EGEUS
Deal!
Meanwhile, the nobles are hanging out in the
garden
HERMIA
Whoa! This place is so cool!
LYSANDER
The Duke really knows how to throw a party.
DEMETRIUS
I think we should have our wedding in a place like
this, Hermia.
Helena walks in
HELENA
DEMETRIUS! Sooooooo good to see you! Hi Lysander! Oh.
Hermia is here. Oh, well. It is perfect weather for a
wedding, Demetrius. Dont you think so? Doesnt it just
make you want to fall in love?
DEMETRIUS
Errrr. Yeah. I think I hear someone calling my name.
Ill be right back.
Demetrius leaves
HERMIA
Demetrius can be so moody.
HELENA
Thats cause he only has eyes for you, Hermia. Youre
so lucky.
LYSANDER
Dont worry, Helena. Hermia and I are going to run away
together tonight! Demetrius will just have to face the
fact that Hermia and I are going to get married.
HERMIA
Who would want Demetrius anyway? Hes so stuck up. Come
on, Lysander. Lets go look around some more.
Hermia and Lysander leave Helena
3.
HELENA
Hermia and Lysander are running away together!
Demetrius wont like that. I bet if I tell him that
they are running away, hell realize that Hermia
doesnt love him. Plus, Ill probably be a hero to him!
Helena leaves to find Demetrius
The Workers Plan Their Play
PETER Q
Okay, guys, I have in my hands the play that we are
going to submit to the Duke at his wedding tomorrow.
MECHANIC
I hope he picks it! Id love to perform at the wedding.
NICKY B
I know how to make sure hell pick us.
PETER Q
Nicky, I dont think you can promise that. The Duke
might not be in the mood for our play, we cant control
that.
NICKY B
Yes but what is the one thing that can make any play
irresistible?
MECHANIC
A plot twist?
PETER Q
A tragic death scene?
MECHANIC
Explosions?
NICKY B
No. ME!
PETER Q
Good point.
NICKY B
Then in order to make sure the Duke picks us, I should
play all of the parts.
PETER Q
Great idea! Lets meet by the woods tonight to
practice.
4.
NICKY B
Excellent. Ill see you then.
They exit
In The Forest
Puck is hurrying around the forest, obviously
looking for something. He notices the audience.
PUCK
Oh, Hello there. Didnt notice you all staring. Youre
probably wondering why I am running around like a fool.
Its because I am! This fool is on an errand from the
Fairy King, Oberon. His wife, Titania, found an Indian
Boy and is keeping him all to herself. Oberon is
jealous and angry so he wants me to find a magical
flower that will make Titania fall in love with the
first thing she sees. I hope its a lion! Or a bear! Or
a wolf, or a bull, or a monkey. Itd be funny to see
her fall in love with a monkey. Oh look- There is the
flower!
Demetrius and Helena are heard arguing off stage
I hear humans! Id better hide before they see me.
Puck hides as Demetrius and Helena walk on stage
HELENA
But, Demetrius, I only told you about Hermia and
Lysander running away together because I love you!
Cant you see that she doesnt want to marry you?
DEMETRIUS
Dont care. Stop following me.
HELENA
Please dont go after them! Stay with me!
DEMETRIUS
Listen, Helena. I dont love you. I dont even like
you. STOP. FOLLOWING. ME. CRAZY. WOMAN.
Oberon enters and is quickly motioned to hide by
Puck
HELENA
Hermia is the crazy one because she doesnt realize how
lucky she is that you love her. You would make a
wonderful husband and-
5.
DEMETRIUS
Oh my goodness if you dont stop your whining, Im
going to give you something to whine about! Get lost!
Demetrius storms off and Helena follows
PUCK
Well that guy was jerk.
OBERON
I agree, thats no way to treat a lady. Puck, I think
we should teach this disdainful youth a lesson. When
you find that magical flower-
PUCK
I have it here!
OBERON
Excellent. I will save some of its juices for that mean
man. You must use it to make him fall in love with the
sweet Athenian lady.
PUCK
No problem. Lets go find your wife Titania and make
her fall in love with a bear!
Puck and Oberon hide again, and Titania and the
Fairies enter
TITANIA
I think this looks like the perfect flower bed to
settle down in for the night.
PURPLE FAIRY
Good, Im tired. That little Indian Boy is hard to keep
up with.
PINK FAIRY
You know, I think Id fall asleep a lot easier with a
lullaby.
TITANIA
I know a great one, lie down and Ill sing it to you.
Titania sings a lullaby and the Fairies lay down
to sleep. After the lullaby, Titania also falls
asleep.
PUCK
Wow, that was great timing.
Oberon squeezes the flower juice over Titanias
eyes
6.
OBERON
Now when she wakes up she will fall in love with the
first thing she sees! Here, Puck. Take this flower and
go find that man and woman we just saw.
Oberon leaves, and Hermia and Lysander enter, not
noticing Puck
LYSANDER
What a long day, Hermia. We should take a moment to
rest here in the forest before continuing.
Lysander and Hermia lie down
PUCK
More great timing- theres the human couple! I will put
some of the magic flower over his eyes.
Puck puts some of the flower juice over Lysanders
eyes, and exits. Demetrius and Helena enter.
HELENA
Demetrius youre moving too fast! Slow down and wait
for me.
DEMETRIUS
NEVER!
Demetrius hurries off stage
HELENA
Oh he hates me! He hates me! Its like I am cursed. No
one will ever love me!
Lysander wakes up, sees Helena
LYSANDER
I love you!
HELENA
Oh, Lysander, I didnt see you asleep there. Very
funny. I know you love Hermia, along with everyone else
around here.
LYSANDER
No, I love YOU!
HELENA
Are you making fun of me? Thats not very nice.
LYSANDER
Why would I make fun of the woman I love?
7.
HELENA
Youre such a jerk. Just leave me alone, I have to go
find Demetrius.
Helena leaves followed by a love-struck Lysander,
Hermia wakes up
HERMIA
Lysander! I just had a terrible dream! Lysander?
LYSANDER?!
Hermia runs off to find Lysander
Peter Q, Nicky B, and Mechanic enter
PETER Q
This is a nice clearing, lets practice our play here
NICKY B
Ok. I have all of my lines memorized. I think Mechanic
should be the Lion and Peter Q should be the Wall.
MECHANIC
I dont want to be the lion! What if they think Im
real and try to shoot me?
NICKY B
Its just a play, they know that you arent a real
lion. Just like they know that people dont ACTUALLY
die at the end.
MECHANIC
PEOPLE DIE AT THE END?!
PETER Q
Thats terrible! Are you going to have to die, Nicky B?
I dont want you to die!
NICKY B
No, no, no. Its pretend. Its just a play. I am a very
good actor though, so I understand how people might get
confused. Peter Q, please write a speech for the
beginning of the play that explains that the death
scene isnt real- its just really good acting.
MECHANIC
And that Im not really a lion.
PETER Q
Okay, Ill get right to work.
Peter Q pulls out a notebook as he and Mechanic
start working on the speech
8.
Nicky B is practicing his lines as Puck walks in
and sees the group. The group does not see him.
PUCK
What is this? This forest is just full of annoying
humans today. And that one human that is talking to
himself is so close to the sleeping fairy queen. It
would be so boring if she woke up and fell in love with
him. I have no choice. I have to turn him into a
donkey.
Puck turns Nicky B into a donkey
NICKY B
Hee Haw
Peter Q and Mechanic look up to see a donkey
wearing Nicky Bs clothes. They yell and run away.
NICKY B
Hee Haw?
Titania wakes up
TITANIA
I love you!
NICKY B
Hee Haw!
TITANIA
What a very wise thing to say, you beautiful creature.
Fairies! Gather a feast for my new love!
PURPLE FAIRY
Has she lost her mind?
PINK FAIRY
I think so.
PURPLE FAIRY
Maybe we should just do what she says.
PINK FAIRY
Well be right back, your majesty!
In Another Part of the Woods
Oberon is sitting at his fairy throne as Puck
enters.
9.
PUCK
Hey there Oberon. Who is your favorite servant of all?
OBERON
You?
PUCK
Yes me! I did everything you wanted me to. Made the two
humans fall in love AND made Titania fall in love with
a donkey!
OBERON
My favorite servant!
Demetrius and Hermia enter, they do not see the
fairies
HERMIA
Demetrius! Something terrible has happened! Lysander is
missing.
DEMETRIUS
Who cares? I have been stuck in these woods for
hours trying to find YOU, the woman that Im supposed
to marry, because you ran away with someone else!
HERMIA
But, I-
DEMETRIUS
And on top of it all, Ive been followed around by
Helena who just doesnt understand that I will never
ever love her. Never. Ever. Not in a million years.
HERMIA
I know youre mad at me, but we have to find Lysander.
DEMETRIUS
No, YOU have to find Lysander. I have to rest a minute.
All the annoying women of this city have been draining
my energy since I got here.
HERMIA
FINE!
Hermia leaves, Demetrius lies down to rest
PUCK
Oops.
OBERON
OOPS?!? You didnt use the flower on the mean human!
10.
PUCK
I used it on A human.
OBERON
Give me the flower. Ill do this myself. Go find the
sweet human lady.
Oberon crushes the flower over Demetriuss eyes as
Puck exits.
Puck returns right away with news.
PUCK
I didnt have to go far- shes walking up right now.
Puck and Oberon hide
Helena enters, followed by Lysander
HELENA
It wasnt funny the first time, Lysander. Stop being
mean.
LYSANDER
But Im not being mean! I am in love with you!
HELENA
STOP IT!
Demetrius wakes up and sees Helena
DEMETRIUS
Oh my love! I am so glad I have found you!
HELENA
Who? Me?
DEMETRIUS
Yes, you! The only woman I will ever love!
Hermia walks in
LYSANDER
Back off, Demetrius. I love Helena!
HERMIA
Lysander!
DEMETRIUS
I love Helena more.
11.
HERMIA
This joke isnt funny!!
HELENA
Thats what I said!
The couples continue to argue silently
OBERON
Puck, you really messed things up. Get Lysander away
from the group and cast a spell over him so he thinks
everything that happened was just a dream. Im going to
go find Titania.
Oberon Exits, Puck plays a song on his flute and
the couples fall asleep. He crushes the flower
over Lysanders eyes.
PUCK
This my magic spell; I hope that it goes well; When you
wake up this all will seem; like a crazy midsummer
nights dream!
Oberon Enters
OBERON
Have you taken care of it?
PUCK
Yes sir!
OBERON
Okay, now come do the same thing to Titania. She was so
in love with that donkey that she agreed to let me play
with the Little Indian boy whenever I wanted.
PUCK
Another forgetting spell- coming right up!
They Exit
The Next Morning
The Duke, Hippolyta, and Egeus enter and discover
the sleeping couples
HIPPOLYTA
There they are!
DUKE
Wake up!
The couples wake up
12.
LYSANDER
Hermia! Thank goodness you are here. I just had the
strangest dream.
EGEUS
Silence, Lysander. How dare you steal away my daughter
in the night!
HERMIA
But, daddy-
EGEUS
Dont you "but, daddy" me. You are supposed to be
marrying Demetrius!
DEMETRIUS
Why would I marry her when I love Helena?
HELENA
Wait. What?
EGEUS
Demetrius, I demand you marry my daughter. Duke! Do
something about this.
DUKE
Calm down, Egeus. I will handle this. Hermia- who do
you love?
HERMIA
Lysander
DUKE
And Lysander, who do you love?
LYSANDER
Hermia, of course.
DUKE
Okay. And Demetrius, do you also want to marry Hermia?
DEMETRIUS
No way! I am in love with Helena.
DUKE
Helena, what do you think?
HELENA
Well, I am a bit confused. But I do love Demetrius!
DUKE
Okay, I think we have everything figured out here.
Egeus, your daughter is marrying Lysander because
(MORE)
13.
DUKE (contd)
Demetrius is going to marry Helena. In fact, if you
want, we can all get married together. Today is my
wedding, after all. The more the merrier.
The couples are happy and they all exit
Nicky B enters as a human
NICKY B
Whoa. I just had their weirdest dream...
At The Wedding
Everyone is gathered at the wedding reception
DUKE
What a beautiful wedding. Three couples married at
once- now thats what I call a party!
HIPPOLYTA
Have you picked a play for us to watch?
DUKE
Yes, I think we should watch Peter Qs play starring
Nicky B.
NICKY B, PETER Q, MECHANIC
Yes!!!
Nicky B, Peter Q, and The Mechanic take the stage
to perform their play
PETER Q
Ladies and Gentlemen. Tonight you will see the play
called Pyramus and Thisbe. I must warn you, there is a
lion in the play, but it is not a real lion! It is only
a man playing a lion. Please do not shoot him. People
will also die in this play, but they will not REALLY
die. They will just pretend to. So dont be scared and
enjoy the show!
Nicky B and The Mechanic act out the play and we
see all of the fairies creep up behind the
wedding, peeking inside
TITANIA
Oberon, they all look so happy.
OBERON
I will cast a magic spell over them so that they will
continue to feel all this happiness and love for days
to come.
14.
PUCK
What a perfect Fairy Tale ending!
Puck turns and talks to the audience
PUCK
I hope you enjoyed the play, and if you havent I hope
youll forgive us. If you were offended by this play I
have a flower that might make you like it a bit more.
Give me your hands if we be friends and Robin shall
restore amends!