When Fairies Fight

            I saw the live MND performance and then watched the Rice University production. The first part of Act II Scene I had key differences between the two productions that effected the portrayal of the fairies for the rest of the play. In the live performance, the scene begins with blasting dub-step and the fairies of Titania dancing to it. Puck bursts onto the stage in his own dance. The dancing ends when Puck bumps into the lead fairy and starts a verbal sparring match. They challenge each other through biting delivery of lines such as “I serve the fairy queen!” and “take heed the queen come not within his sight”! This power struggle interaction between the fairies and Puck tilts in his favor when he uses his magical powers during his speech about slipping a stool from under a lady and forces the fairies to reenact the scene while all the while rushing around the stage.

            There are several results to having this interaction portrayed in such a confrontational way. By having the dub-step dance routine at the start and then having the very lively blocking throughout it creates a lot of playful, but slightly dark, energy in the scene. This creates tension between the fairy and Puck which, through the actors’ choice to portray the scene as a fight, elevates this scene in importance by introducing to it the theme of couple struggle so prevalent in the play. When Puck takes control of the fairies, placing one of the fairies on his lap in order to topple her down and then forcing the others to laugh at her, it places Puck, unexpectedly, as the chief example of male dominance in the entire play. Additionally, since this our introduction to fairies in the play, it creates an instant feeling that the fairies should be laughed at, but also feared.

            None of this tension is seen in the Rice production. The fairy is casted as being very simple and nice, and Puck is portrayed more as a mischievous child. The delivery of the lines is gentle and, perhaps most strikingly different, Puck only says that he “makes Oberon laugh” and does not give his barstool speech, much less force the fairy to play the part. This cutting reinforces the light natured interaction between the fairies and downplays the power struggles that are so crucial in the live production of the scene.