Midsummer Night's Dream Act 1 Scene 2 Essay

Introduction
In act 1 scene II we are introduced to the group of actors (Bottom, Quince, Flute, Snout, Snug and Starveling) who have joined together at Peter Quince’s house to discuss the parts they will play for the Duke and Duchess.
The story is set in ancient Greece, Athens where two lovers (Hermia and Lysander) are forbidden to marry each other. Instead, Hermia must marry Demetrius. However, Demetrius’s lover (Helena, Hermia’s best friend) is heart-broken to hear the news. Lysander and Hermia decide to run away together where they can marry freely and they both tell Helena. Helena is so desperate to be favoured by Demetrius that she betrays them and tells Demetrius the plan.
Once everyone is in the woods, we are introduced to the group of actors who decide which part they must play for Duke Theseus and Hippolyta’s wedding. This part of the play introduces the characteristics of some of the characters and gives us a basic idea of the purpose of the actors in other scenes.
How the actors make the audience aware of their setting
In this scene it would be a good idea to leave the background plain and add a small fireplace in the centre of the stage.
This would suggest that the setting is a home as wood is what some house are constructed of and a fireplace symbolizes cosiness (what a home should be). This prop would give the audience a better understanding of this scene and a better understanding helps them get more involved with the play.
An accessorized table with a few chairs around it would be good props to use in this scene of the play. The table and chairs symbolize the setting of a home due to the fact that they are common items in homes; they are also used for gatherings which is the exact thing which I happening in the scene. This makes the audience aware of both the setting and what is happening. The audience need to know what is happening and be aware of the setting to interact with the actors.
How the actors move around their
bodies
Everyone should walk in from the stage door and then sit at the table, but from line twenty Bottom must stand from his chair and walk up to the audience and state his lines. Entering from the stage door would be a good use because the scene is set in a house (doors are the usual entrance for houses). Bottom should go towards the audience at line twenty since this particular section involves passion and pride; going towards the audience at this moment would make sure the audience were more aware of what is happening. Having the audience more aware helps the aspect of communication. Using the globe theatre is a good use of the props which are already there.
Throughout the scene Bottom and Quince should both be standing tall and have their chests out at all times. These aspects symbolize leadership and pride (the qualities which each of the men are); this will also make the characters more recognisable. Having the characters recognisable suggest that the audience’s interaction would better.
How the actors deliver their lines
Bottom and Quince should be quite loud and clear while speaking their lines, but from line twenty Bottom should put emotion when saying his lines to the audience. This would be a good idea as it promotes the characteristics of the two characters (bold, clear and controlling). If the audience understand the characters’ characteristics this will give them a better interpretation of most of the play and their involvement would be improved.