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In A Midsummer Night's Dream, why do you think that the 'mechanicals' were asked to perform a play at Theseus and Hippolyta's wedding party?

The rude mechanicals plan to perform a play to entertain the duke and duchess before their wedding. Peter Quince insists that they meet in the woods in order to keep their play and aim secret. They have a difficult time with the rehearsal, dealing with incompetent actors and the transfiguration of the lead actor, Bottom, whose head turns into a donkey’s. He then disappears for the whole night.


However, Bottom appears just in time and tells them, “our play is preferred.” The players are one of many groups to submit their act before the nobles. Theseus is eager to get into bed with his new wife and asks for some entertainment to distract him from his impatience: “Is there no play, / To ease the anguish of a torturing hour?” Philostrate gives a list of revels that Theseus can choose from.


Theseus is unimpressed with most of the selection, but the actors’ bizarre description of their play catches his eye: “A tedious brief scene of young Pyramus / And his love Thisbe; very tragical mirth.” The duke wonders about the announcement’s oxymorons. Philostrate tries to discourage him from seeing the play, saying that the only amusement to be derived is from their motives, which are “Extremely stretch'd and conn'd with cruel pain.”


Philostrate also says that the supposed tragedy made his “eyes water; but more merry tears / The passion of loud laughter never shed.” The duke insists on seeing it, praising the actors’ good intentions. Essentially, it is the players’ ineptitude that attracts Duke Theseus, who is prepared to support their efforts and laugh at their foolishness.

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