A Fairy Tale in Two Acts

In a rustic rehearsal room, Peter Quince gathers a band of amateur craftsmen to cast their comic tragedy of Pyramus and Thisby for the Duke and Duchess, only to be upstaged by Nick Bottom's boundless confidence and comic vanity. Bottom tries to claim every role, from tragic lover to roaring lion, while the others bicker over costumes, voices, and the hazards of overacting, turning the scene into a sharp satire of theatrical ambition and humble artistry. The craftsmen agree to rehearse secretly in a moonlit wood, where their mock-earnest plea for the Duke's indulgence gives way to a world of fairies and invisible powers. There, Puck's mischievous energy and the bitter quarrel between Oberon and Titania over a changeling boy reveal a realm where love, illusion, and nature itself are thrown into disorder. As Oberon sends Puck to fetch a magic flower that can inflame desire, Titania's fairies sing her to sleep, deepening the play's blend of enchantment, comedy, and romantic misrule. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.