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At the end of A Midsumme Night's Dream, William Shakespeare (via Puck), with a nod and a wink, addresses the audience to tell them that the play has been a sort of dream. “Nothing to see here - move along. Move along.“ It is one of the most famous of Shakespear's monologues, and the ideas expressed appear in several of Shakespeare's plays. In this clip we see how this scene is played in several productions— • Mickey Rooney in the 1935 Max Reinhardt production. • Ian Holm in a 1968 Peter Hall's Royal Shakespeare Company production. • Damien Nash in the 1981 production of Benjamin Britten's opera. • Stanley Tucci in Michael Hoffman's 1999 film version. • Kathryn Hunter in Julie Taymor's 2014 filmed stage production. More information on films in John's Catelog may be found here: ORIGINAL TEXT If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended— That you have but slumbered here While these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream, Gentles, do not reprehend. If you pardon, we will mend. And, as I am an honest Puck, If we have unearnèd luck Now to ’scape the serpent’s tongue, We will make amends ere long. Else the Puck a liar call. So good night unto you all. Give me your hands if we be friends, And Robin shall restore amends.
