Oberon and Tytania dispute the possession of her Indian page-boy and mortals are suffering the result of their dissension which has caused extreme disorder in the elements. Oberon is determined to wrest the boy from his wife and commands Puck to search out a flower that will cause her to fall in love with any beast or creature that she seeks on awaking from sleep

Hermia has been commanded by her father to marry Demetrius and his will is upheld by a strange Athenian law. On the eve of Duke Theseus’s marriage to Hippolyta, she elopes with Lysander. They intend to cross to the other side of the park to stay with his aunt but are pursued into the forest by Demetrius who is himself pursued by Helena, whom he promised to marry before he took a fancy to Hermia. Oberon witnesses Helena’s plight and orders Puck to use some of the magic herb to anoint Demetrius so that he w ill fall back in love with Helena when he awakes.

The wood is now invaded by a group of thespian workmen: Quince has written a play, Pyramus and Thisby, which they hope will be chosen to celebrate the Duke’s wedding. Much to everyone’s disgust, Bottom, the self-appointed star actor of the group, would prefer it to be a one-man show, with himself in all the roles, including the heroine’s which has been promised to his rival, Flute.

Puck unfortunately mistakes Lysander for Demetrius so, when Lysander awakes, he falls madly in love with Helena and deserts Hermia. While Tytania, sleeps in her bower, Oberon squeezes the love juice in her eyes.

Puck accidentally witnesses the chaotic rehearsal of Pyramus and Thisby and, when Bottom goes into the bushes to make an entrance, he transforms his top half into that of a donkey. His friends scatter in terror but, much to Puck’s delight, Tytania awakes and immediately falls in love with the half-ass-man. Bottom, however, is not very impressed with Tytania and he manages to fall asleep on her as she persuades him into her bed.

Oberon is delighted with Puck’s achievement but extremely angry when he witnesses the crazy situation that now exists between the four quarreling lovers; things are not improved when Oberon anoints Demetrius. Now both men are in love with Helena and Hermia is out on a limb.

After punishing Puck, Oberon summons up a fog to confuse them and commands him to correct their joint errors. Puck manages to pair the lovers up correctly near the bower where Tytania is sleeping with her donkey. He ensures that both men will see the right woman when they wake and steals away to Oberon with the Indian Boy.

Oberon reverses the spell on Tytania and she wakes to see her beloved Oberon. At the sound of Theseus’s hunting-horns, the four lovers awake and fall in love all over again—with the right partners. When Bottom wakes up he decided it has all been a very strange dream; and he rushes off to turn it into a monologue to deliver at The Wedding of the Year.

Until Bottom meets his colleagues with the news that their play has been chosen, they are mourning their loss—not only of Bottom, but of the opportunity to perform at Court.

Theseus teases Hippolyta, reminding her that he wooed her by conquering her on the battlefield. Their banter is interrupted by the arrival of the four lovers who ask for the royal couple’s blessing on their marriages. They all settle down to enjoy the entertainment of the evening.

In spite of the mocking response of their audience—all of whom are impatient to get to their wedding beds—Pyramus and Thisby goes quite well. Bottom and Flute in the title roles being particularly singled out for praise. The thespians are rewarded for their pains and, as midnight sounds, everyone goes happily home to bed.

The Fairies appear to bless the three marriages and Puck begs the audience for their benevolent applause: "If we shadows have offended Think but this, and all is mended: While these visions did appear…… Give me your hands if we be friends And Robin shall restore amends!"