Duke Theseus of Athens prepares to marry the Amazon queen Hippolyta. Theseus and Hippolyta discuss their wedding plans. They have arranged for four days of celebrations and entertainment, all taking place under a new moon. Theseus is so excited that he can hardly wait. He orders Philostrate, his master of the revels, to stir up public excitement and bring him an entertaining distraction to help pass the time. When Philostrate leaves, Theseus promises his fiancée that their wedding will be a huge celebration, even if he did seduce her using his skills on the battlefield.

Egeus enters with his daughter Hermia and two young men named Lysander and Demetrius. He has a complaint that he hopes to personally deliver to Theseus: Hermia is in love with Lysander, even though Egeus has arranged for her to marry Demetrius. Egeus wants Theseus to punish Hermia for her refusal to marry Demetrius. Theseus begins to criticize Hermia for her disobedience, threatening to send her to a nunnery, but Lysander interrupts. He accuses Demetrius of being fickle, pointing out that Demetrius was once engaged to Hermia’s friend

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