The Directors Seat

POST-PERFORMANCE ACTIVITY

Now that students have seen A Midsummer Night’s Dream, they will be able to compare the written text to the play in performance. Take time to explain the role of Director in a production, and how they are responsible for guiding the actors’ performance, and shaping the way we perceive the play.

Answer these initial questions:

1. Was there anything in the performance that you had imagined differently? (A character, a moment, a setting) How did the performance differ with your view?
2. Was there anything in the performance that was how you imagined it? What was it and how was it similar to your view?

A Midsummer Night’s Dream blends comic scenes with more serious elements as part of the same story.

3. Choose a comic scene from the performance and answer the following:

• • Describe what happens in the scene
    
  • Describe the mood or tone of the scene
    
  • How did the actors use their bodies, voices and facial expressions to convey the mood of the scene and the character’s situation
    
  • Are there any elements that have been added to the scene by the director? (Props, costume, song, etc.) For each, why do you think the decision was made to include them?
    
  • Imagine you are a director. How might you direct the scene differently? Explain your choices with reference to how you want to audience to react.
    

4. Choose a more serious scene from the performance and answer the following:

• • Describe what happens in the scene
    
  • Describe the mood or tone of the scene
    
  • How did the actors use their bodies, voices and facial expressions to convey the mood of the scene and the character’s situation
    
  • Are there any elements that have been added to the scene by the director? (Props, costume, song, etc.) For each, why do you think the decision was made to include them?
    
  • Imagine you are a director. How might you direct the scene differently? Explain your choices with reference to how you want to audience to react.

5. Why do you think Shakespeare has decided to use more serious scenes in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which is predominately a comedy?