Description

With scant allegiance to the work of Shakespeare, this play takes many liberties with the Bard’s text. In doing so, it achieves a comedy style of its own. Peter Quince the carpenter is out of work, and in his idleness, persuades his friends, the rude mechanicals, to compete for a prize the duke is offering for a play to be performed in honor of his wedding. The rude mechanicals snatch at the chance to recoup their failing fortunes. Manipulated by Puck, a playful sprite, Quince writes a play about Pyramus and Thisbe and recruits the rude mechanicals to perform in it. It proves to be a riot and wins the prize. One unit set with changing properties. Elizabethan costumes. Approximate running time: 55 minutes.