Scene "Craftsmen's Group"

Introduction

You just have to be careful that there are many roles and therefore the actors have to pay very close attention so as not to miss their cue. Not only do the children have to know their lines, but they also have to know the lines of the others very well so that they don't miss their cue.

If that doesn't work well, there are "hangs" and the wordplay can't unfold.

This scene is actually suitable for all ages, as it has a very funny content and the characters are completely different.

Information about the play - A Midsummer Night's Dream (Shakespeare)
Background knowledge about the author - William Shakespeare

Kontext

Number of acts: 5
Position: Act 1, Scene 1. In total, Act 1 consists of 2 scenes.

We are relatively at the beginning of the action. The group of craftsmen wants to rehearse the play "Pyramus and Thisbe" in the forest in order to perform it at the wedding of Theseus, the King of Athens and Hippolyta, the Amazon Queen.

The Roles

The craftsmen

Peter Squenz, the carpenter, will play the prologue in the play being presented. Zettel, the weaver, will portray Pyramus, Flaut, the bellows mending man, will play Thisbe, Pyramus' mistress. Tom Schnauz, the tinker, is the wall, Schlucker, the tailor, plays Moonshine and Schnock, the carpenter, the lion.

Peter Squenz: Distributes the roles of the play, plays Thisbe's father himself.

Schnock: Carpenter, is supposed to play the lion because he is not good at remembering lines.

Klaus Zettel: Weaver, is supposed to play the role of Pyramus, constantly volunteers for other roles. (Zettel, according to Shakespeare researcher Charles Knight, is the representative for all mankind. His confidence in his own power is always equally firm. Other literary scholars also see Zettel as an outstanding figure, a "true original, a comedian rather than a fool." He immediately finds a solution for every situation. It is he, after all, who is later mistakenly turned into a donkey by Puck.

Franz Flaut: Bellows mender (presumably an old term for someone who repairs leather things), is supposed to play the role of Thisbe, but doesn't want to play a woman's part.

Thoms Schnauz: tinker, is to play Pyramus' father.

Matz Schlucker: tailor, is to play Thisbe's mother.

Storyline

Squenz, the leader of the theatre troupe, is trying to distribute the roles for the play, which is not entirely straightforward. They are all very excited because it is the first meeting of this kind.

Zettel is very eccentric and thinks he is the most talented actor. He would like to play all the roles himself. Schnock is a bit simple-minded, he even has a hard time learning the lion's lines.

Text

SQUENZ, SCHNOCK, ZETTEL, FLAUT, SCHNAUZ and SCHLUCKER perform.

A room in a hut.

SQUENZ.
Are all our troops together?

ZETTEL.
It would be best if you all called up.

SQUENZ.
Here is the note from everyone who is considered capable throughout Athens to play in our interlude before the Prince and Princess, on their wedding day at night.

ZETTEL.
First, good Peter Squenz, tell us what the play is about; then read out the names of the actors and get to the point.

SQUENZ.
Sappalot, our play is - the most lamentable comedy and the most cruel death of Pyramus and Thisbe.

SQUENZ.
A very good play, I tell you! And funny! - Now, good Peter Squenz, call the actors to the note. - Master, stand apart!

SQUENZ.
Answer as I call you! - Klaus Zettel, the weaver.

ZETTEL.
Here! say what part I have, and then go on.

SQUENZ.
You, Klaus Zettel, play the Pyramus.

ZETTEL.
What is Pyramus? A lover or a tyrant?

SQUENZ.
A lover who kills himself for love.

SQUENZ.
Franz Flaut, the bellows mend!

FLAUT.
Here, Peter Squenz.

SQUENZ.
Flaut, you must take Thisbe above you.

FLAUT.
What is thisbe? A knight errant?

SQUENZ.
It is the damsel that Pyramus must love.

FLAUT.
No, my soul, let me not make a woman's part; I'll get a beard already.

ZETTEL.
Give me Thisbe too. I will speak with a fine voice: "Thisbe, Thisbe! - Ah, Pyramus, my love fair! Thy Thisbe fair and miss fair!"

SQUENZ.
No, no! You must play Pyramus and Flaut, you, Thisbe.
Matz Schlucker, the tailor!

SCHLUCKER.
Here, Peter Squenz.

SQUENZ.
Matz Schlucker, you must play Thisbe's mother.
Thoms Schnauz, the tinker!

SQUENZ.
Here, Peter SQUENZ.

SQUENZ.
You, Pyramus' father, I myself Thisbe's father; Schnock, the carpenter, you the lion's part. And so all would be settled.

SCHNOCK.
Have you written down the lion's part? Pray you, if you have it, give it me; for I have a weak head to learn.

SQUENZ.
It is nothing like roaring.

ZETTEL.
Let me also play the lion. I will roar, that it shall do a man good in the flesh to hear me. I will roar that the prince shall say, "Roar again! Roar again!"

SQUENZ.
You can play no part but Pyramus. For Pyramus is a man with a sweet face, a handsome man, such as one can ask only on feast days, a charming, well-behaved cavalier. Therefore you must play Pyramus.

ZETTEL.
Well, I'll take it upon me. In what beard could I play him best?

SQUENZ.
Nay, in what sort of a beard you will.

SQUENZ.
Here, master, are your rolls, and I must beg, exhort, and entreat you to know them by heart to-morrow night. Meet me in the castle wood, a mile from the town, by moonlight: there we will rehearse.

I beseech you, do not fail me.

ZETTEL.
We will come, and there we can taste quite impudently and heartily. Make an effort! Do your parts perfectly! Adieu!

SQUENZ.
By the prince's oak we'll meet.

ZETTEL.
That's the way it stays, it may bend or break!

Text work

1. History: Who are they? They are inexperienced workers and want to try a piece.

2. What is handicraft? What is craft today?

3. Who are the characters?

4. Scene is divided

5. Presentation as pantomime

6. Presentation in own words

7. Reading the text aloud and acting it out, see chapter Text Work

Scenarios

Zettel and Peter Squenz are sitting in the inn and decide to rehearse a play for the Duke's wedding. What are they talking about? What ideas do they have?

Flaut and Schnauz go to the rehearsal and talk about what's in store for them. Flaut is a bit nervous because he has never acted before. What do they talk about?