Shakespeare on Stage

A sample of upcoming productions around the world.

American Shakespeare Center, Philaster, or Love Lies a-Bleeding. To Apr. 6, 2012.
American Shakespeare Center, Richard III. To Apr. 5, 2012.
Atlanta Shakespeare Company, Romeo and Juliet. To Feb. 29, 2012.
American Shakespeare Center, A Mad World, My Masters. To Apr. 7, 2012.
Atlanta Shakespeare Company, The Merry Wives of Windsor. To Apr. 1, 2012.

Theseus and Hippolyta

The mortal pair at the top of the hierarchy, Theseus and Hippolyta, play a minor part in the comedy. They hunt, they celebrate the midsummer festival*, and they get married.

But Theseus, like Oberon*, seems to be concerned to maintain male supremacy. He reminds Hippolyta, who is after all an Amazon, the strongest of women:

. . . I wooed thee with my sword,
And won thy love, doing thee injuries
(1.1.16-17)

Footnotes

  1. Oberon and patriarchy

    Oberon gives no reason for his desire for the changeling boy, whereas Titania gives a long, poetic defence of her action (2.1.123-37).

  2. A festival by any other name . . .

    Oddly enough, the play at times seems to refer to the fesival of May Day, sometimes to Midsummer's Eve.

    Go to the page that deals with these festivals.