Dani Desjardins and James Smith

Midsummer Nights Dream Act 1 Scene 2

Paraphrase
Quince Is everybody here?
Bottom Your best option is to call everyone individually, name by name, according
to the text on the page.
Quince Here is the cast list of everyones name on it. It has the best actors in all of
Athens that are suitable to perform in the play in front of the Duke and the Duchess
on their wedding night.
Bottom First, Peter, say the name of the play, then tell the actors their parts. And
stop wasting time.
Quince Alright. Our play is called The Most Lamentable Comedy and the Most
Cruel Death of Pyramus and Thisby.
Bottom A very well written play if I do say so myself. It going to be lots of fun to
work on. Now, Peter, call in order of the actors on the script. Everyone go sit down.
Quince Answer as I call your names. Nick Bottom, the man who sews the fabric.
Bottom Here I am. Name the part I am playing. Hurry up!
Quince You will be playing the role of Pyramus.
Bottom Who is Pyramus? Is he a lover boy? Or a villain?
Quince He is a lover boy, who kills himself bravely over his one true love.
Bottom I will have to cry to make my performance believable. And as soon as I
start crying the audience will start crying as well. I am going to make tears pour out
of all their eyes. Okay, now say the rest of the parts. Wait, my kind of humour is
more for a villain. I could play Hercules forsure. Or a part that requires raving and
ranting.
The raging rocks
And shivering shocks.
Of prison gates.
And the sun-gods car
Will shine from far
Away, and make and mar
Foolish fate.