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Shakespeare on Stage
American Shakespeare Center, Love's Labour's Lost. To Jun. 15, 2013.
Folger Shakespeare Library, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 9, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Return to the Forbidden Planet. To Dec. 1, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, The Duchess of Malfi. To Jun. 15, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 16, 2013.
More Performances…
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A Midsummer Night's Dream (Quarto 1, 1600)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Suzanne Westfall
Not Peer Reviewed
A Midsommer nightes dreame.
Quin. Mary, our Play is the most lamentable comedy,
280and most cruell death of Pyramus and Thisby.
Bot. A very good peece of worke, I assure you, & a mer-
ry. Now good Peeter Quince, call forth your Actors, by the
scrowle. Masters, spreade your selues.
Quin. Answere, as I call you. Nick Bottom, the Weauer?
Bott. Readie: Name what part I am for, and proceede.
Quin. You, Nick Bottom are set downe for Pyramus.
290Bott. What is Pyramus? A louer, or a tyrant?
Quin. A louer that kils himselfe, most gallant, for loue.
Bott. That will aske some teares in the true performing
of it. If I doe it, let the Audience looke to their eyes: I wil
295mooue stormes: I will condole, in some measure. To the
rest yet, my chiefe humour is for a tyrant. I could play Er-
cles rarely, or a part to teare a Cat in, to make all split the
raging rocks: and shiuering shocks, shall breake the locks
of prison gates, and Phibbus carre shall shine from farre,
300and make & marre the foolish Fates. This was loftie. Now,
name the rest of the Players. This is Ercles vaine, a tyrants
vaine: A louer is more condoling.
Quin. Francis Flute, the Bellowes mender?
305Flu. Here Peeter Quince.
Quin. Flute, you must take Thisby, on you.
Flu. What is Thisby? A wandring knight?
Quin. It is the Lady, that Pyramus must loue.
Fl. Nay faith: let not me play a womā: I haue a beard cō-
Quin. Thats all one: you shall play it in a Maske: and you
may speake as small as you will.
Bott. And I may hide my face, let me play Thisby to: Ile
speake in a monstrous little voice; Thisne, Thisne, ah Py-,
315ramus my louer deare, thy Thysby deare, & Lady deare.
Qu. No, no: you must play Pyramus: & Flute, you Thysby.
Bot. Well, proceede. Qui. Robin Starueling, the Tailer?
Star. Here Peeter Quince.
Quin. Robin Starueling, you must play Thysbyes mother:
B2
Tom