In "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Theseus, the duke of Athens, is about to marry Hippolyta, a lady warrior who he conquered. Egeus brings his daughter Hermia to court. She and Lysander want to get married, but Egeus wants her to marry Demetrius, who also wants her. Under Athenian law, Hermia must either marry the man of her father's choice, choose banishment to become a nun or be executed. Theseus says he will enforce this law and gives everyone a few days to decide. Demetrius used to love Helena but has since abandoned her; she is Hermia's friend. Lysander and Hermia decide to elope and get married in the next town, beyond the reach of Athenian law. Hermia tells Helena, who in turn tells Demetrius in order to get him to love her again. Hermia and Lysander flee into the woods, Demetrius follows the lovers, and Helena follows him.
             Out in the forest, Oberon and Titania, king and queen of fairyland, have quarreled over who will raise an orphaned Indian boy. They have also each slept with either Theseus or Hippolita. Oberon sends Puck to find a magic flower. This flower's juice, applied to a sleeper's eyes, will make the person fall in love with whoever he or she sees first upon awakening. Puck brings the flower, and Oberon applies it to the eyes of sleeping Titania. Oberon then tells Puck to apply it to the eyes of Demetrius, so that when he wakes and sees Helena he will love her instead. Hermia and Lysander fall asleep, with Lysander honoring Hermia's request to sleep a little distance away. Puck mistakes Lysander for Demetrius and puts the love juice in his eyes. Helena sees Lysander, thinks he may be hurt and wakes him. Lysander sees Helena and falls in love with her. Some skilled laborers have gone into the woods to rehearse a play for the wedding. They rewrite it, replacing the lovers' parents with "the moon" and "a wall". Puck puts a donkey head on Bottom the weaver. Titania, awakening, falls in love with him.
             Demetrius and Ly...