We have started work on Midsummer Night’s Dream and have had a lot of fun this 
week acting out the first part of the play to try to work out who the characters are and why they act as they do. We have also been investigating where to put actors on a stage and how they should stand to try to show who the important people are in a scene.
We have been writing news reports about the start of the play when Egeus complains to Theseus that his daughter wants to marry Lysander instead of Demetrius who has chosen for her. He insists that if she will not do as she is told, she should die! We imagined how this news might be reported and we tried to think about what kind of jobs each character might have if we were staging the play…
News flash: Will Hermia live or die?
Court reporter: HW
Yesterday evening preparations were being made for Theseus Redstick and Hermia Hangton’s wedding after winning the elclassico war against Amazonia. Egeus Sackatomolos, 64 years of age from Stratfudton City, interrupted the plans at the castle and wanted Hermia, aged 16, to marry Demetrius Payet, French born football star aged 31. Local people said that Payet was a mean, selfish fellow who deserved no girlfriend.
Lysander and Hermia have been seeing each other for two months but were extremely overwhelmed when Egeus Sackatomolos declared that the law was to obey your father’s demands or else you will be executed by the king’s men. The couple protested, “We only love each other!” Lysander was allegedly buying gifts and singing for her.
Despite her father, Hermia still loves Lysander and hates Demetrius but the true question is will she die or live her life?
News flash: Is Hermia going to die?
Court reporter: JF
Yesterday afternoon, as Theseus was planning his wedding of the century, he was interrupted by 67-year old Egeus Kalbroje who stormed into the palace hall. He complained that his daughter, Hermia-L-Kalbroje, was secretly going out with Lysander, a famous poet and part-time astronomer, when she was engaged to Demetrius Xol, famous magician and former soldier.
Hermia and Lysander were shocked at the fact that Egeus was complaining about them being together. Lysander was so annoyed that he marched out of the palace and he didn’t communicate with anyone for the rest of the day. Desperate to see what would happen to her, Hermia calmly said, “What is going to happen to me then?” The servants of Lord Theseus and Hippolyta complained of the noise as they were trying to get to sleep.
The day before that incident, Demetrius broke up with his fiancé, singing sensation Helena of Midsummer Maids. The devastated Helena was too heartbroken to comment but everybody feels sorry for her. As soon as Demetrius found out about Hermia and Lysander, he cut off their marriage and started to love Hermia. Seeing as Demetrius is so famous, he thinks that everybody loves him, but, having seen what Helena has been through, people now hate him.
The last time Hermia and Lysander were seen was when they headed off into the forest before Egeus was able to do anything with Hermia.
News flash: Will Hermia live?
Court reporter: JL
Late last night, during vital planning for the wedding between Hippolyta and Theseus, Egeus, a local tradesman, burst into the palace doors with a complaint. He claims his daughter, Hermia, had been dishonourable to his family by not obeying her father. She had disobeyed her father’s orders to marry Demetrius, the world champion footballer and ex-‘ace’ soldier.
During the meeting, Hermia, 17, observed the conversation with Lysander, her wanted boyfriend. It is reported that Egeus called Lysander a ‘spell caster’ to lure girls in. Angry to hear this, Lysander was heard shouting at Egeus, saying he was … “as good as that * idiot Demetrius but I actually like Hermia!”
Later yesterday, Theseus reminded Hermia about the consequences if she continued to stand up for her relationship.
Further pressure will be put on Hermia. Will she make the right decision and survive?