LYSANDER Proceed, moon.
STARVELING All that I have to say is to tell you that the lanthorn is the moon, I the man i’th’ moon, this thorn-bush my thorn-bush, and this dog my dog.
DEMETRIUS Why, all these should be in the lanthorn; for all these are in the moon. But silence: here comes Thisbe.
Enter Thisbe.
FLUTE This is old Ninny’s tomb. Where is my love?
SNUG O. (The Lion roars. Thisbe runs off [,dropping her mantle].)
DEMETRIUS Well roared, Lion.
THESEUS Well run, Thisbe.
HIPPOLYTA Well shone, Moon. Truly, the Moon shines with a good grace.
[Lion shakes Thisbe’s mantle.]
THESEUS Well moused, Lion. (5.1.250-262)
Proceed, Moon, well, that’s very kind of you, Lysander. Poor Starveling; he can be furious, tearful, baffled; just let me DO this: all that I have to say is to tell you that the lanthorn is the moon, I the man i’th’ moon, this thorn-bush my thorn-bush, and this dog my dog. That’s all. Can I GO now? Demetrius cannot read a room, just keeps going on and on: why, all these should be in the lanthorn; for all these are in the moon. (It wasn’t even very funny the first time, Demetrius.) But silence—who’s talking, Demetrius?—here comes Thisbe.
This is old Ninny’s tomb. (Quince cannot even, although perhaps through gritted teeth, a faint, resigned, Ninus.) Where is my love? O, says Snug as the Lion; he doesn’t say O, really, one hopes, but rather he does his ROARING—not too threateningly, obviously, but with Commitment—and Thisbe runs away, dropping her mantle, scarf, whatever. (Sometimes this is forgotten and has to be sneaked back on later.) Well roared, Lion! Demetrius speaks for everyone for once; Snug is overcome. Well run, Thisbe! Even more important. But Hippolyta is the kindest, she can see the strain he’s under: well shone, Moon. (Starveling has been fuming, crying softly, counting the seconds, standing still with his stupid lantern and his STUPID thorn bush and his wee dog…) Truly, the Moon shines with a good grace. YES, yes he does, thank you, finally some appreciation for Starveling’s nuanced, detailed performance. Snug is liking the attention now, and also he has to do some more roaring and tearing, some flourishing and chewing and ripping of the mantle. Well moused, Lion! Bit rude of Theseus, suggesting that he’s shaken it as a cat would a mouse. But Snug’s work here is done; he has Triumphed as the Lion, and been Just Scary Enough.
