A Midsummer Night's Dream (1981 TV) Act II, scene 1

Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" -- Act II, scene 1, lines 1-187.......Oberon (Peter McEnery) confronts Titania (Helen Mirren) about the child he wants, and then sends puck to find the eyelid herb.

Phil Daniels ... Puck
Helen Mirren ... Titania
Peter McEnery ... Oberon
Tania Bennett ... Fairy
Alexandra Segal ... Fairy
Louise Mason ... Fairy
Lee Macdonald ... Fairy

Director: Elijah Moshinsky

Helen Mirren wrote:

My father died suddenly and while still grieving I was contracted to play Titania in "Midsummer Night's Dream". It was a role I had always wanted to play but which had eluded me, though I had played both Hermia and Helena, neither of which appealed to me.

Because of my deep sadness over the loss of my father, I found it almost impossible to act. However I was helped by a great director, Elijah Moshinsky, a talented cast and a terrific wig, made at great expense out of hair that is extremely difficult to get hold of: pure, unbleached, very long, fine white-blonde hair. In wig-making terms, it was a work of art.

Wigs are often such an important part of constructing a performance. As a performer I apprecite the brilliant craftspeople that construct both wigs and costumes, and owe them a great debt. Their work is done with the same commitment and passion as any actor. A performance can be either made or detstroyed by these elements. In the case of my wig in the 'Dream', it made my performance, and I am grateful to it. Later this gorgeous piece was cut and dyed dark brown by the BBC wig department to be reused somewhere else. A terrible act of vandalism.

-- from the 2008 book "In The Frame: My Life in Words and Pictures" by Helen Mirren

go here to see Joan Sutherland sing "Je suis Titania" from the Mignon opera;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptYlieIqi40

Je suis Titania, Philine's aria from Mignon

Je suis Titania la blonde,
Je suis Titania, fille de l'air,
En riant je parcours le monde,
Plus vive que l'oiseau,
Plus prompte que l'éclair!

La troupe folle des lutins
Suit mon char qui vole et dans la nuit
Fuit!
Autour de moi toute ma cour
Court,
Chantant le plaisir et l'amour.
La troupe folle des lutins
Suit mon char qui vole et dans la nuit
Fuit,
Au rayon de Phoebé qui luit!
Parmi les fleurs que l'aurore
Fait éclore,
Par les bois et par les prés
Diaprés,
Sur les flots couverts d'écume,
Dans la brume,
On me voit d'un pied léger
Voltiger!

bablefish translation:

I am Titania, Philine' S Nice aria from I am Titania the blonde, I am Titania, girl of l' air,

While laughing I course the world, Sharper than l' bird, Prompter than l' flash!

The insane troop of the imps My tank which flies and in the night follows Flees!

Around me all my court Short, Singing the pleasure and l' love.

The insane troop of the imps My tank which flies and in the night follows Flees, With the ray of Phoebé which shone!

Among the flowers that l' dawn Fact of hatching, By wood and the meadows Variegated, On the covered floods d' foam,

In the fog, Me am seen d' a light foot To fly!

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Shakespeare
• Puck
• Midsummer
• Helen-Mirren
• play
• theatre

[AyeAyeeCaptain]

To ShakespeareandMore, just a quick correction: Puck, not Oberon, is played by Phil Daniels.

[ShakespeareAndMore]

Thanks! Text corrected.

[Cheengow]

Wow. Helen Mirren is the best Titania I have ever seen.

[Desperada57]

I dunno, I thought he was sexy - but then my tastes have always been different ;-)

cleverboi2 said:

I loved Helen Mirren as Titania in this production, but the Puck as an angsty demonic looking teenager? Not so much. Puck is impish and mischievious but certainly not fanged and mad as hell.

[CrimzonChaos]

"ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT, PROUD TITANIA!"

[TheMOFOprincess]

In a few months my school is putting on this play. I'm Titania :)

[zakkwylde89]

It's so weird watching this since I'm going to perform this in a month.. after studying it for a while, then seeing a movie version of it, same words but totally different acting styles, I'm supposed to play Puck.

[CrescentViolet13]

one of my fav Shakspeare's!!!

[AlltheRockLife]

This is so gonna help me w/ a class I'm taking

[Chrisiant]

@Cheengow I could not agree more. 

[andrielisilien]

Ah I love this play and this version!!! Where are the other parts? My favorite is the scene when both the men are fawning over Helena and Hermia enters. I love the chaos XD

[ifeelgood617]

francais!!!!!

french!!!!!!!

[chrish12345]

How dare they cut so much text??

[whispperson]

wonderfull