Enter [BOTTOM as] Pyramus, [FLUTE as] Thisbe, [SNOUT as] Wall, [STARVELING as] Moonshine, and [SNUG as] Lion; [a trumpeter] before them.
QUINCE Gentles, perchance you wonder at this show;
But wonder on, till truth make all things plain.
This man is Pyramus, if you would know.
This beauteous lady Thisbe is certain.
This man, with lime and roughcast, doth present
Wall, that vile Wall which did these lovers sunder,
And through Wall’s chink, poor souls, they are content
To whisper; at the which, let no man wonder.
This man, with lantern, dog and bush of thorn,
Presenteth Moonshine. For if you will know,
By moonshine did these lovers think no scorn
To meet at Ninus’ tomb, there, there to woo. (5.1.126-137)
And here they all are, blinking into the spotlight, as Quince introduces them one by one. There may be some reluctance or awkwardness, from Snug and Snout in particular, but what is essential is that they take it completely seriously. This cannot be played for laughs. Quince begins well: gentles, perchance you wonder at this show—you may be wondering what you’ve let yourselves in for, rather than overcome with amazement—but wonder on, till truth make all things plain. All will be revealed in due course! This man is Pyramus—bow, Bottom; just the once is fine, yes—if you would know. This beauteous lady Thisbe is cerTAIN, and that metrical awkwardness might be a neat echo of Flute’s discomfort with his wig and skirts (although often he is totally enjoying it). This man—hello Snout, come on down, careful now—with lime and roughcast, doth present Wall, that vile Wall which did these lovers sunder (and the wall might indeed be made of plaster, or else carefully painted cardboard; awkward to manoeuvre, whatever, and Snout can be hangdog, vile, really?—and through Wall’s chink—show the chink, SHOW THE CHINK, alright—poor souls, they are content to whisper; at the which, let no man wonder. See, that wasn’t so bad, was it, Snout? This man—yes, it’s you now, Starveling—with lantern, dog and bush of thorn presenteth Moonshine. It can be a storybook lantern on a stick, or a torch; the dog can be a toy dog on wheels, or electronic, doing backflips, whatever, Moonshine regularly steals the show; he knows he’s silly, but he’s Committed. For, if you will know, by moonshine did these lovers think no scorn to meet at Ninus’ tomb, there, there to woo. That’s the story, yes, the story so far. Pyramus, Thisbe, Moonshine and Wall. What’s next?
