A Midsummer Night's Dream

Hermia is given two options : marry a guy other than her boyfriend or die.  She and her boyfriend go to elope, but the guy she's supposed to marry and another girl follow them into the forests, where they attract the attention of the fairies and crazy capers ensue.  Meanwhile some bumbling fools are preparing a play for the duke's wedding in the same forest, and even more crazy capers ensue.  But in the end they all live happily ever after.

This is one of the few comedies which is not only actually funny, it also doesn't depend on mistaken identities and twins.  It can be a little hard to keep track of who's chasing after who, but once you get that sorted out it's very pleasantly witty.  I say "pleasantly witty" because it's not a slapsticky hilarious kind of play.  If that's what you think of as a comedy, too bad.  The main theme is the juxtaposition is the world of law in Athens as represented by duke Theseus with the world of nature and wildness and instinct in the woods as represented by the fairies.  This is one of the best comedies for all kinds of reasons, not the least of which is the beautiful sound of the language-but there's really nothing I can put my finger on.  It just rocks.

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