Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Puck's Tragic Tale

OK - now that my ideas are coming together I am getting excited. I am really liking the Puck back story idea for the final project (by Andrew). Here are some possible particulars.

1st - The Chorus Character
Like I said in  my previous post I think a chorus or chorus like character is an important part of a play. They really help the audience get the big picture of the play or in some cases understand the background. When they are not acting like the traditional chorus like from Greek historical plays, they are found as a common character that is very relate-able and therefore the audience can readily trust them.
The person could be one of Oberon's servants who is a friend of a friend of Puck. He will fill the function of a chorus character in the way that he tells Puck's story to Oberon (like royal gossiping) and then proceeds to comment on it which leads to Puck solution to his issues. Sorry, I am purposely being vague here because I am going to go into more detail about the plot which will clear things up.

2nd - The Plot
The is the main reason I am getting so excited. Reading Andrew's idea I started to see a connection with one of my favorite TV shows right now: Once Upon A Time. I know I'm a nerd, but here me out, I think the story could be really cool.
Here is the main outline.
Puck travels from his home in Athens to India with a trading group.
Puck meets and falls in love with a fairy there, who unbeknown to him is the princess.
Puck returns home and finds out about his love and hears that she has just gotten married. 
Puck is sad and enlists the help of Oberon's magic.
Puck receives a curing potion in exchange for service to Oberon. This potion makes him forget about the princess all-together and he enters Oberon's court as a personal attendant destined to do all sorts of odd little jobs for Oberon.

Here are the specific details.
Act 1 - Introducing Puck and his family. They live under the rule of Oberon and Titania in the woods by Athens. They all celebrate his coming of age with a feast, dancing and a short play (play within a play). He is invited by his father as a gift to go with him on a journey to India to do trading. (This is already referred to in Midsummer Night's Dream with Titania's changeling child from India.) They prepare for travel and depart.
Act 2 - They have arrived at the woodland in India. They are getting reacquainted with fairies that they have done business with previously. One night, Puck wakes with a strong wind and he decides on a midnight stroll. He sees a beautiful fairy by the lakeside and decides to have some fun with her. He pretends to be a royal ambassador from Athens to heighten his prestige. She turns out to be the princess, or lady in waiting and they obviously fall in love. He continues to hide his identity, but low and behold she is holding out as well; she is engaged, betrothed since her birth to marry and take over the ruling of the Indian woodlands. It comes time that Puck's traveling party is about to leave and so he and the princess part promising to a sweet reunion later when she must represent her royal family in Athens.
Act 3 - Back in Athens Puck is welcomed home with another celebration. At the party Pucks friends reacquaint him with all the gossip and the goings on. He is told that he and his father must have just missed the big news. There was a big royal wedding in India. Hearing this Puck is distraught. He finds that his love could never be. This is where it connects to Anne's true love idea. We could easily use her lines reworked from Antony and Cleopatra. His heart is broken. He is distraught and hurt somewhat like Andrew was talking about. His friends and family obviously see his blues, but find him awkward to be around and therefore leave him to himself.
Act 4 - In the royal court Oberon receives official royal announcement of the wedding in India. While commenting on this he asks for any other gossip from his servants and they tell him of the the trade that happened in India and the welcome home party. This retelling will be done by the chorus character who is also privy to Puck's personal plight. He talks up Puck's success in India and explains about the lost love and his current situation. Oberon takes petty on him and decides to use his magical skills to help him. We works on a magical potion and then attempts to find Puck on one of his nightly strolls. When they meet that night, Puck confides how broken hearten he is hoping that Oberon's magic might hold some cure for him. Oberon responds that he can help him. With this magic potion! But of course Puck must agree to something in return. Oberon offers the potion while requesting Puck's service as a personal attendant. Puck sees this as a great opportunity; his troubles will be fixed and he will gain prestige in the king's service. He asks more specifically after the potion and is told that it is a complete cure, it will erase all memory of the Indian fairy princess he is in love with! This is extreme, but obviously love needs the strongest cure. He reflects and has a moment to decide his course, before he drinks the potion. The final scene is of Puck learning the ways of Oberon's court and being taught the tricks of the trade. His family and friends try to greet him and socialize with him, but he denies them because they had not stood by him in his dark time.

3 comments:

  1. This is brilliant! I think we should all go with this.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks. I have been trying to find a good place to fit in your African story. I'll let you know if I come up with anything.

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  2. I definitely like some of these thoughts, especially the chorus idea. I've been brainstorming story ideas myself, if you want to take a look!

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