A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Characters One-Liners.
The Athenians
Theseus – The Duke of Athens (M - 30s-50s) Warrior; looks good in a long, leather coat. ‘Fair Hippolyta, I wooed thee with my sword’
Hippolyta – Queen of the Amazons (F - 30s) Not Athenian. Must be handy with the Sword. ‘Four days will quickly steep themselves in night’
Philostrate – Wedding Planner (M - middle aged) disdainful of the lower orders. ‘Hard-handed men which never labour'd in their minds till now’
Egeus – Father of Hermia (M - 50s) a bad tempered patriarch. ‘Full of vexation come I with complaint against my child’
Hermia – daughter of Egeus (F - 20s) in love with Lysander, not too tall, a bit of a Spitfire, no Nun. ‘You juggler, you cankerblossom, you thief of love’
Demetrius – (M-20s) in love with Hermia at first, then Helena by the end. Fickle, irritable; a bit of a drip. ‘I love thee not, therefore pursue me not’
Helena – in love with Demetrius (F - 20s) taller than Hermia; a bit of a spaniel. ‘Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind’
Lysander – (M - 20s) in love with Hermia at first, but then loves Helena, then back to Hermia at the end. Good looking, assertive, mocking; a bit of a chancer. ‘The course of true love never did run smooth’
The Fairies
Oberon - Titania's husband and King of the Fairies (M An older man) permanently in a bad mood. ‘Ill met by Moonlight, proud Titania’
Puck – in the pay of Oberon (M or F – youngish) other-worldly wide-boy, prankster, drug-pusher. Must have a head for heights; should be able to sing like Marsha Hunt. Or Elvis. Or both. ‘Lord, what fools these mortals be’
Titania - Oberon's wife and Queen of the Fairies (F 30s-40s) a bit of a goer ‘Methought I was enamoured of an ass’
The Fairies – Leader (F 18-24); The Fairy Circle: Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, Mustardseed will not be cast. ‘Over hill, over dale, I do wander everywhere’
The Mechanicals (the Local Am-dram group)
Nick Bottom – weaver (M - any age) over-bearing, over-acting, over-amateur thespian; plays Pyramus. ‘I have had a most rare vision’
Francis Flute - bellows-mender (M or F – middle age) plays Thisbe. In heels. And a dress. ‘Nay, let me play not a woman; I have a beard coming’
Robin Starveling - tailor (M – middle age) plays Moonshine. ‘This lanthorn doth the horned moon present . . ’
Peter Quince – carpenter (M or F – middle age) Officious, leads the troupe and plays Prologue. 'You may do it extempore, for it is nothing but roaring’
Snug - joiner (M – any age) a bit large, a bit slow, a bit cowardly; plays Lion. Could be bearded. ‘Have you the Lions’ part written, give it me for I am slow of study’
Tom Snout – tinker (M – any age) plays Wall. Cautious of displeasing. Socially arrested. ‘Thus have I, Wall, my part discharged so; and, being done, thus Wall away doth go’