Synopsis Act I

In the woods of Athens, the mischievous sprite Puck and his friend Cupid are frolicking when King Oberon of the Fairies enters. His queen, Titania, soon follows onto the scene, holding the Changeling Child. She has been entrusted to care for the child, but Oberon intends to make the child his page. Titania refuses to allow it, and the two quarrel. Titania assures him that he will never possess the child, and she leaves in haste. Hermia is in love with Lysander, but she has been betrothed to Demetrius. In order to escape the arrangement, Hermia and Lysander run into the woods. Meanwhile, Oberon, who is still angered by Titania's refusal to release the child to his authority, is interrupted by two mortals, Helena and Demetrius. Helena (Hermia's friend), who is infatuated with Demetrius, has run to Demetrius" side and has told him of Hermia and Lysander's secret escape. Demetrius and Helena are in the forest in search of the forbidden lovers. Oberon becomes aware of the young lovers" troubles and decides to intervene. Oberon wants Demetrius to fall in love with Helena. Oberon orders Puck to fetch a flower containing a love-inducing nectar. When dropped into the eyes, the nectar causes that person to fall in love at first sight. Puck confuses identities and drops the potion into Lysander's eyes instead of Demetrius'. The error is compounded when Helena becomes the first to capture Lysander's sight, and thus, his heart. Demetrius also falls under the influence of the spell and pursues Helena, as well. Hermia is confused, and a chase through the woods ensues. In the Kingdom of the Fairy Queen, Oberon comes upon his sleeping Queen and drops the flower nectar into Titania's eyes. He waits for the spell to take effect. Meanwhile, the mischievous Puck has come across an amateur acting troupe who has come together to rehearse. Being the prankster that he is, Puck transforms one of the actors, Bottom, into a donkey. Next, Puck strategically situates Bottom next to Titania. Under the spell of the flower, Titania awakes, sees the donkey Bottom, and falls desperately in love. Oberon relishes in the confusion but becomes enraged with Puck for mismatching the mortals. Seeing the Queen humiliated, Oberon regrets his actions and releases her from the spell. He restores order by appropriately pairing off the mortals. Into the woods wander Duke Theseus of Athens and his fianc?e, Hippolyta, with their courtiers. They come upon the couples and invite them to join in their wedding festivities. Hermia is happily united with Lysander, while Demetrius joins with Helena. Bottom is restored to his human form. and Titania reconciles with her King.

Act II

The magical adventure, which began with Puck turning order into chaos followed by chaos into order, culminates with couples uniting in a joyous wedding celebration.