Finding the grim
in the comic

Robin Goodfellow (Puck) is describing for Oberon a series of incidents that have already taken place. Although large parts of the speech are straightforward narration, there are some difficult passages. When Puck compares the frightened “mechanicals” to birds (“wild geese” or “russet-pated choughs”) frightened by a hunter (“the creeping fowler”), the actor must pick his/her way through the narration carefully in order to make sense of it.

Since Puck is often played by a woman, this speech (as well as the others by Puck) is open to both men and women. Crucial to the presentation, however, is the tone and attitude chosen by the actor. While the narration of events must be absolutely clear, and emotionally re-experienced by the character, Puck’s pure enjoyment of his/her own villainy is essential. Above all, the actor should not rush through the speech.

Key to the Piece: As a messenger type of speech, this must be emotionally relived. The danger here is that it can become repetitive by simply playing Puck’s enjoyment on each line. But Puck is not really the cheerful, cute little fairy that is often portrayed on stage. Puck is amoral, cruel and will always find ways to do harm with relish. The actor must try to find places in the monologue to show this.

Back to Plays

Contrasts

	Play:	A Midsummer Night's Dream
	Scene:	III, 2: 6 – 34
	Character:	Puck
	Setting:	A wood near Athens
	Adjani performed the role of Hannah Jarvis in Arcadia, as well as Mrs. Loomis in the stage adaptation of William Inge’s Splendor in the Grass. Adjani is trained in stage combat (rapier), various dialects and theatrical make-up, and has studied music for 6 years (alto saxophone).

 
My mistress with a monster is in love.
Near to her close and consecrated bower
While she was in her dull and sleeping hour,
A crew of patches, rude mechanicals
That work for bread upon Athenian stalls
Were met together to rehearse a play
Intended for great Theseus’ nuptial day.
The shallowest thickskin of that barren sort,
Who Pyramus presented, in their sport
Forsook his scene and entered in a brake,
When I did him at this advantage take.
An ass’s nole I fixed on his head.
Anon his Thisbe must be answered,
And forth my mimic comes. When they him spy –
As wild geese that the creeping fowler eye,
Or russet–pated choughs, many in sort,
Rising and cawing at the gun’s report,
Sever themselves and madly sweep the sky –
So, at his sight, away his fellows fly,
And at our stamp here o’er and o’er one falls.
He “Murder” cries, and help from Athens calls.
Their senses thus weak, lost with their fears thus strong,
Made senseless things begin to do them wrong.
For briers and thorns at their apparel snatch;
Some sleeves, some hats – from yielders all things catch.
I led them on in this distracted fear,
And left sweet Pyramus translated there;
When in that moment it came to pass,
Titania waked and straightway loved an ass.