A Midsummer Night's Dream Concept Statement
I set this play in Ancient China during the Chinese New Year Celebrations. I choose this setting because the time period has similar aspects such as royalty, arranged marriages, and traditional celebrations. Ancient China is also suited for the set— the palace would be an elaborate Chinese palace, while there are many beautiful forests outside of the cities. The clothing for the time period also lends well to play with patterns for each character. The pattern for a specific character should reflect certain qualities, so for the fairy servants of Titania, their names indicate certain qualities about them already. By taking their names and applying them to their costume, you can then tell who is who by the physical representation of their name through their costume i.e. Peaseblossom- cherry blossoms, Cobweb, web-like patterns, etc.
Oberon is dressed in a traditional hanfu in cobalt with black accents. He also wears the traditional Mianguan (headwear). Titania is dressed in a red hanfu with gold accents. She wears an elaborate phoenix crown (Fengguan). Robin Goodfellow/Puck wears an acrobatic-like, one piece suit. He also wears headwear, but it significantly less elaborate than Oberon and Titania. Peaseblossom wears a soft pink hanfu with cherry blossoms as the pattern. She does not wear a headdress, but instead has her hair pulled back in the traditional Chinese style. Cobweb wears a black hanfu with white etching, resembling spiderwebs. Her hair is also in the traditional Chinese style. Moth is dressed in a red, black, and white hanfu in a pattern that resembles a moth (Grammia virgo) with her hair traditionally styled. Mustardseed wears a hanfu in mustard with green, vine-like patterns. Her hair is also traditionally styled.
Oberon is dressed in a traditional hanfu in cobalt with black accents. He also wears the traditional Mianguan (headwear). Titania is dressed in a red hanfu with gold accents. She wears an elaborate phoenix crown (Fengguan). Robin Goodfellow/Puck wears an acrobatic-like, one piece suit. He also wears headwear, but it significantly less elaborate than Oberon and Titania. Peaseblossom wears a soft pink hanfu with cherry blossoms as the pattern. She does not wear a headdress, but instead has her hair pulled back in the traditional Chinese style. Cobweb wears a black hanfu with white etching, resembling spiderwebs. Her hair is also in the traditional Chinese style. Moth is dressed in a red, black, and white hanfu in a pattern that resembles a moth (Grammia virgo) with her hair traditionally styled. Mustardseed wears a hanfu in mustard with green, vine-like patterns. Her hair is also traditionally styled.
All characters are in traditional Chinese dress. Oberon and Titania are considered royalty among the fairies and therefore have the most elaborate costumes. All are assigned a symbol to represent their characters.
Oberon: Traditional hanfu in cobalt and black accents. He wears traditional headwear as well (Mianguan).
Titania: Traditional hanfu in red with gold accents. She wears an elaborate phoenix crown (Fengguan).
Robin Goodfellow/Puck: One-piece acrobatic-style suit- still traditional. Also wears a headdress, but is significantly less elaborate than Oberon and Titania.
Peaseblossom: Traditional hanfu in a soft pink with cherry blossoms as pattern. No headdress, hair is in traditional style.
Cobweb: Traditional hanfu in black with white etching, hinting at a cobweb-like quality. Hair is also traditional.
Moth: Traditional hanfu in red, black, and white. Pattern resembles that of a Grammia virgo. Traditional hair.
Mustardseed: Traditional hanfu in mustard. Traditional hair.
