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A Midsummer Night’s Dream
The Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Stratford-upon-Avon
THE FAMOUS 17th century diarist and avid playgoer, Samuel Pepys, thought A Midsummer Night’s Dream the most ridiculous play he had ever seen.
And, indeed, on the plot level — ancient Athenians mixed with fairy magic and a determined group of working-class tradesmens’ comic attempts to put on a play within the play — the dream is the bard’s silliest work.
More discerning critics have recognised a much richer play, exploring, among other themes, the illusory psychology of love.
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