‘Encountering the play’ First reactions to the text as a whole: 1999 film version

“It is so easy to lose the freshness of direct response to ‘first time’ encounter with a text, which will in time be overlaid by the experience of working, scene by scene, through the text. Most people who have seen this play throughout its life have probably only seen it once: to work, it has to work immediately.” We are going to watch the 1999 film version of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. Try to treat this as your first experience of the play, but keep a critical eye open at all times. You will be making notes as you watch, recording your responses to this one particular version of the play: how it ‘happens’ to you, the individual audience member. Make notes honestly and regularly, using the following headings: 2. Your reaction to these events and moments – * Which bits did you like? Which bits did you find awkward? Which bits did you find funny? Upsetting? Etc. Events – what happens? Which are the key moments? Turning points? Moments which change the tone (e.g. from high drama to comedy)? * Come up with your own reactions...

You need to ask ‘what is the play’s effect on me?' These notes will be very important when we come to the final stages of preparing the exam. You’ll never get a second chance to gain a first impression, so make sure you make your notes are detailed and honest. (Those of you coming to the performance at The Globe should make some similar notes as soon as you can after the performance. It’ll be interesting to see how differently you feel about a live performance as opposed to a filmed one.)

Post-viewing notes: Events You should now have notes on the events of the play, and on your reaction to these events. Let’s think about events first. 1. In your groups, note down the key events of the play. 2. Now using this, plot out the ‘movements’ of the play, i.e. the way the play falls into dramatic (as opposed to act and scene) divisions. Where do the significant breaks and changes happen? 3. How could you present this effectively for display on the wall?

Post-viewing notes: Reactions Now let’s think about your reactions a little more... How much of your reaction to different moments is the result of Shakespeare’s text, and how much the result of the way this production reads/ dresses/stages things? You need to ask ‘what is the play’s effect on me?’ and ‘what is this production’s effect on me?’

‘Beyond liking or understanding’ – an objective look at your shared reactions

Student-led seminar Whether or not you feel you like, or understand, the play at this point, you need to look as objectively as you can at your shared reactions and consider what your shared outcomes might be. First reactions to the play - a pooling of the notes written - big flipchart sheets of thoughts on paper? The shape of the play. Can we achieve a diagram of significant phases/movements? Do they have anything to do with acts and scenes? The effect of the play and of this production of the play - resulting in agreed written summaries of ideas, to be displayed in the room.