A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The characters in the ballet adaption of A Midsummer Night’s Dream are inspired directly from Shakespeare’s comedic play of the same name.

(in alphabetical order)

Bottom: A weaver who is transformed into a donkey

Demetrius: In love with Hermia initially, later enchanted to love Helena

Hippolyta: Queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus

Helena: In love with Demetrius

Hermia: In love with Lysander, pursued by Demetrius

Lysander: In love with Hermia

Oberon: King of the Fairies

Puck: Oberon’s mischievous servant

Theseus: Duke of Athens

Titania: Queen of the Fairies

The original choreography for the ballet A Midsummer Night’s Dream was created by George Balanchine, the version he created for New York City Ballet premiering in 1962. This two-act full-length work that has established itself as the principal balletic interpretation which many companies around the world continue to include in their repertoire.

ACT I: An Enchanted Forest in Athens on Midsummer Eve

The ballet opens in a moonlit forest inhabited by fairies and sprites led by their king, Oberon, and queen, Titania. The royal fairy couple is engaged in a quarrel over a changeling boy whom Titania refuses to give to Oberon. Seeking revenge, Oberon instructs his mischievous servant Puck to find a magical flower whose sap, when squeezed onto the eyes of someone sleeping, will make them fall in love with the first creature they see upon waking.

Into this enchanted realm enter two pairs of mortal lovers: Hermia and Lysander, who have fled Athens to escape Hermia’s arranged marriage to Demetrius, who pursues them accompanied by Helena, who is hopelessly in love with Demetrius despite his rejection. Oberon, witnessing Demetrius’s cruelty to Helena, orders Puck to place the love potion on Demetrius’s eyes so that he will fall in love with Helena.

Puck, however, mistakes Lysander for Demetrius and applies the potion to Lysander’s eyes. When Lysander awakens, he sees Helena and immediately falls in love with her, abandoning Hermia. Realizing his mistake, Oberon instructs Puck to remedy the situation by applying the potion to Demetrius’s eyes as well. This creates further confusion as both men now pursue Helena, while Hermia is left bewildered and hurt.

Meanwhile, a group of craftsmen enter the forest to rehearse a play they intend to perform at the wedding of Duke Theseus. Puck transforms Bottom, one of the craftsmen, by giving him a donkey’s head afterwhich the other craftsmen flee in terror, leaving Bottom alone in the forest.

Oberon, having also placed the love potion on the sleeping Titania’s eyes, ensures that Bottom is the first creature she sees upon waking. As planned, Titania becomes infatuated with the donkey-headed Bottom, creating a comical and absurd situation that delights the vengeful Oberon.

ACT II: The Court of Theseus

Oberon, now satisfied with his revenge on Titania, releases her from the spell and reconciles with her. He also orders Puck to restore order among the confused mortal lovers. Puck lures all four lovers to sleep near one another and applies an antidote to Lysander’s eyes so that when they awake, the proper couples will be reunited: Lysander with Hermia and Demetrius (who is still under the spell) with Helena.

The mortal lovers (and Bottom in his human form) return to Athens, where they find that Theseus has given his blessing for them to marry according to their true desires. With Theseus and Hippolyta, a triple wedding is celebrated.

An epilogue shows the reconciled Oberon and Titania blessing the mortal unions, while a young boy (often representing the changeling) inherits the enchanted realm, suggesting the cyclical nature of the fairy world.

(Classical ballets have evolved over time, lending themselves to different interpretations as choreographers and directors create works that reflect their visions of the story. The above is intended to provide general information; for details on different versions, click on each of the performances below.)

The musical score for A Midsummer Night’s Dream was composed by Felix Mendelssohn, originally to accompany Shakespeare’s play.

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