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Event
A Midsummer Night's Dream
The New York State Ballet , a Non-Profit Organization, and Ballet Prestige, along with the RIT Orchestra, present the famous ballet based upon Shakespeare's beloved comedy, written in 1595.
Set to music by Felix Mendelssohn, the choral parts will be sung by the Amadeus Chorale Youth Singers.
The play, one of his most popular, was written when Shakespeare was in his early 30's. This year 2016 celebrates the 400th anniversary of his death. The music was written by Mendelssohn in 1826 when he was only 17. Sixteen years later, he added to it, including the famous "Wedding March," one of the most performed pieces in the history of music. The piece is noted for its striking instrumental effects, such as the emulation of scampering "fairy feet" the braying of Bottom as a donkey, its horn solo, and for its songs.
The ballet is set in an enchanted forest outside Athens, inhabited by fairies, fireflies, dragonflies, and butterflies. The Duke of Athens is planning his wedding to Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. Oberon, King of the Fairies, and Titania, Queen of the Fairies quarrel over a child they both want as a page. Oberon orders Puck, a mischievous elf, to cast a spell over the sleeping Titania using a magic flower which causes anyone coming under its influence to fall in love with the first person their eyes behold.
Meanwhile, Helena and Demetrius, an Athenian couple, are wandering in the wood. Demetrius rejects her love. Observing their interaction, Oberon orders Puck to use a magic flower to unite the couple. Another couple, Hermia and Lysander, are also wandering in the woods, and Puck mistakenly anoints Lysander instead off Demetrius, who then falls in love with Helena. "The course of true love never did run smooth." Puck then brings Demetrius under his spell and now both men are in love with Helena and start to quarrel over her. Hermia is distraught and angry with Helena.
While on their to perform at the Duke's wedding, Puck separates one of the men, Bottom, from his bumbling companions, and transforms his head into a donkey's. He then places Bottom at the feet of the sleeping Titania. Under the spell of the magic flower, Titania awakes and pays close and loving attention to Bottom, donkey head and all. Puck is delighted with all the mischief he has caused. "Lord, what fools these mortals be!" Having accomplished his goal of obtaining the child and to reverse the magic, Oberon sprinkles flower juice into Titania's eyes and sends Puck to undo the spells he has cast.
The Duke of Athens, Theseus, and his Amazon Queen, Hippolyta, discover the lovers asleep in the forest, awaken them, find their differences resolved and declare a triple wedding for themselves and the two couples. In the forest, Oberon and Titania are reunited with the fairies. Puck, having put order back into disorder, declares that it may have all been just "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
"If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended- That you have but slumbered here, While these visions did appear, And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream."
Children are considered 12 and under.
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LocationKodak Center for the Performing Arts / Theatre On the Ridge (View)
200 West Ridge Road
Rochester, NY 14615
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: Yes! |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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