Midsummer Nights Dream

Whether it comes from a play or book, a movie version almost always is, and will never be, quite so good. There were a few major differences that had been pointed out in the movie, directed by Michael Hoffman in 1999, after reading the play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, written by the renowned author, William Shakespeare.

In the play, Nick Bottom was a single man, roaming the city of Athens looking for an adventure. Also, the townspeople had been portrayed as quite poor. Puck, Oberon’s jester had been imagined as much younger. On the other hand, in the movie, Bottom was married. He was looked on by his wife as a disappointment, always dreaming and never living in reality like herself. The people, throughout the movie, had a much wealthier look about themselves. In addition, Puck was portrayed as a balding, middle-aged man.

The play was originally set in Athens, in Ancient Greece. The men did not wear suits and ties, they would have more likely worn capes and tights. And cars and skateboards had not been invented yet, so the folk always traveled via foot. Unlike the play, the movie was set in Athens, Italy, in the 1900’s. Almost all of the men were wearing suits and ties, and everyone in that time period owned a bike.

In reading the play,