A Midsummer Night's Dream (Le songe d'une nuit d'été)

Research Status: Basic Last Updated: 2025-07-06 Diary Coverage: Up to 1874-05-02

Identity

Shakespeare's comedy, performed as an opera or musical adaptation at Nice theater. Marie finds it boring and lacking intrigue.

Diary References

1874

• May 2: Attends performance in Gioia's box. "La salle insignifiante, la pièce ennuyeuse et dénuée d'intérêt et d'intrigue." Tenor playing Shakespeare resembles Duc de Mouchy exactly.

Context

• Shakespeare adapted for opera/musical theater
• Popular 19th century adaptation
• Performed in French translation
• Nice theater repertoire
• Using Gioia's abandoned box

Original Play

• Written c. 1595-1596
• Multiple plot lines: lovers, fairies, mechanicals
• Set in Athens and enchanted forest
• Famous for Puck, Bottom, fairy magic

Research Notes

• Shakespeare adaptations in 1870s France
• Opera versions vs straight plays
• Nice theater programming