Blog #6- A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act V (part 1)
Act V
Why does Theseus select the workmen to
perform, knowing beforehand that they are likely to be incompetent?
·
List at least
five major acting mistakes (cited) made by the working men while performing the
play Pyramus and Thisbe.
·
What is the
effect of these mistakes for both the audience within the play (Theseus and
company) and for us the ‘real’ audience?
Remember to
sign your post with your first initial, last name, and class period.
Theseus selects the workmen to perform because he knows they tried hard and put effort into it. Five acting mistakes made were the prologue saying that the play wasn't real life and it was meant to offend, stumbling along words and using incorrect grammar, breaking character, "I am not a lion, but Snug the joiner", and a lack of passion (Act 5, Scene 1, pages 5-13). The effect of these mistakes for the audience within the play is that they sit in the crowd and talk about what could be done to make the play better. For us, it shows what a disaster the play had become. (1M. Reyome)
ReplyDeleteI agree that there was a lack of passion. I disagree that we thought the play was a disaster. Some might have thought that it was a comic relief in a Shakespeare play. Also the audience might have thought it was funny or exciting. (E.Adkins 6th)
DeleteTheseus let the workmen perform the play knowing that they were incompetent because he wanted to make himself look better. He justifies this by saying that because he believes that allowing incompetent actors to perform for him is his way of showing them mercy instead of kicking them off of the stage immediately.
ReplyDelete(6 M. Greene)
I think that Thesus is also just being a kind-hearted king. He shows mercy on his subjects and is grateful for the play, no matter how good or bad it may be. (T. Johnson 7th).
DeleteTheseus selects incompetent workmen to be a kind person. He is made aware that they are worthless and the play is not worth his time but instead of turning them down he says, "The kinder we, to give them thanks for nothing." He makes himself look better by choosing a play with people who don't know what they're doing.
ReplyDelete-In the play mistakes are made such as when Pyramus talked to the audience by saying, "She is to enter now and I am to spy are through the wall." The 'moonshine' character was also carried out very poorly as even Hippolyta says, "I am weary of this moon. Would he would change."
-The effect this has on the audience within the play is that it helps them take their mind off the events that just took place in their "dream" and allows them to forget about all that for a while. The real audience enjoys "Pyramus and Thisbe" but it was slightly confusing in relation to "A Midsummer's Night Dream." The audience in the book seemed to enjoy it very much but it confused me greatly. K. Stanley 5th
Theseus let the workmen to preform even though he knew it would be bad because he believed that if they put all of their hard work into it and tried hard then it would not matter how bad it was. The play Pyramus and Thisbe was horribly put together and it had a lot of mistakes. The first mistake was the opening because it wasn't grammatically incorrect and it did not make sense. Thisby also missed her cue so they had to motion for her to enter. When the wall finished his lines he walked off stage. Because he walked off stage there was no prop so the moon had to fill in which made it look bad. Moonshine was supposed to be playing the man in the moon but the props were so bad that he had to use a candle. Lastly when Pyramus was dying he kept shouting "die" which made the audience think they were referring to the game of dice. Throughout the play the audience would stop the play to make comments and criticize them.(7J.Shillow)
ReplyDeleteThesus selects the workmen to perform for him not only because it was an original play, but because he felt as though even if they were inexperienced, they deserved a chance to put on a great production. He also thought their inexperience would be fun to watch. The workmen make many mistakes in their play such as breaking the fourth wall, speaking to the audience, and saying incorrect lines. Bottom continually speaks to Thesus and the rest of the audience whenever he hears them
ReplyDeletemake a comment about they play. Quince is saying his prologue and stumbles over his words countless times and sometimes has to start over to finish his sentences. Throughout the whole play, Bottom talks to the audience and often explains the plot and characters to them; however helpful that may be, he is supposed to stay in character at all times. The Wall also breaks the fourth wall when he begins to talk to other characters and the audience. The play had many mistakes that needed to be addressed. These mistakes cause confusion within the audience and also stops the flow of the play. They also make for an exciting play for the newlywed couple on the night of their wedding. (H. Bryant 6th)
Thesus is a kind character, stating "The kinder we, to give them thanks for nothing. Our sport shall be to take what they kistake; and what poor duty cannot do, noble respect takes it in might..." (V. i. p57). This means that Thesus, although he knows the play will be bad, is thankful that the men have prepared it for him and will respect them regardless of their acting ability.
ReplyDeleteActing Mistakes
1- Quince is not respectful and does not use correct punctuation in the prologue. "We are not here, that you should here repent you, the actors are at hand; and, by their show, you shall know all, that you are likely to know." (V. i. p57)
2- The actors talk to the spectators in the middle of the play. For example, the will turns to Thesus when he is talking and corrects him on the cue of one of the actors. "(Thesus) The wall, methinks, being sensible, should curse again. (Pyramus) No, in truth, sir, he should not..." (V. i. p59).
3- The wall, having finished his part in the play, makes sure the audience notices him and understands his part is over by saying "Thus I, wall, my part discharged so; and, being done, thus wall away doth go." (V. i. p60).
4- The lion, played by Snug, starts off his role by ensuring the audience knows who he is and that is he accidentally scares someone, he apologizes in advance. "You, ladies, you, whose gentle hearts do fear the smallest monstrous mouse that creeps on floor... then know that I, one Snug the joiner, am a lion-fell..." (V. i. p60).
5- The moon pauses his lines when he hears the audience talking about him and waits for them to stop until he continues. "This lanthorn doth... This lanthorn doth the horned moon present; myself the man i' the moon do seem to be..." (V. i. p61)
These mess ups in the play, while may annoy the play's characters, add comical relief to he happy ever after scenario taking place from the audience's point of view.
T. Johnson 7th
Thesus selected the workmen to perform, because he thought they were inexperienced. It would be humorous to be in the audience of the workmen. Since the workmen had very little experience, they would talk to the audience, recite the wrong lines and they broke the fourth wall. Many of them missed their cues on stage. Thesus knew this play was going to not be a good one. Bottom had to try to cover up the mistakes by giving commentary during a scene. The audience was very confused throughout because of the stumbled lines and the inexperienced not doing their jobs. It was definitely sort of hard to keep up with the whole play. (B. Holland 7th)
ReplyDeleteI think that while it was humorous, the King may have also chosen them to mock them because they are of a lower class. Instead of laughing with them he may have been laughing at them. (M. McAlister 5th).
DeleteThesus selected the workmen to perform because he thought it would be funny for the audience because they are inexperienced. The five acting mistakes were talking to the audience, breaking character, using incorrect grammar, saying incorrect lines, and not acting with passion. These mistakes confused the audience and stops the flow of the play, but it made for an exciting play on the wedding day. The mistakes also add comical relief the the play. (E. Adkins 6th)
ReplyDeleteI think that while this was a factor, Theseus also chose the workmen because he was kind and wanted to give them a chance to show any talent they had. (M. Reyome 1)
DeleteI agree with you, I feel like he wanted them to preform to mock them and embarrass them. Thesus really showed his character by the remarks and comments he made during the play. To make matters worse he constantly stopped the performance to correct them and ask questions to make them look dumb. (5j.shillow)
DeleteTheseus chose inexperienced workmen to put on the production because he wanted to give them a chance to succeed and if they didn't it would be rather comical. Five mistakes made by the men include talking to the audience, missing cues, grammar errors, saying the wrong lines, and breaking the fourth wall. I think that for both audiences it made the wedding scene more enjoyable and lighthearted as well has quite funny. (M. McAlister 5th).
ReplyDelete