About this book
A Fairy Tale in Two Acts Taken from Shakespeare (1763) by Unknown springs 18th-century Drury Lane theatre into lively audio, condensing Shakespearean enchantment into a brisk two-act dramatic comedy.
This playful stage adaptation relocates action between Athens and a nearby wood and assembles a memorable cast—Quince the carpenter, Nick Bottom the exuberant weaver, the bumbling "mechanicals," and the fairy royals Oberon and Titania with mischievous Puck. The text stages the well-known interlude of Pyramus and Thisbe alongside fairy-world transformations, blending rustic farce with supernatural mischief. Listeners encounter themes of love, theatrical illusion, class and performance, and the era’s appetite for reworking Shakespeare to suit Georgian taste. As performed at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, the piece offers a window into 1763 stage conventions, vocal styles, and crowd-pleasing comic timing.
Perfect for fans of Shakespeare, students of theatre history, and anyone who enjoys classic drama and whimsical comedies on audio, this edition captures the charm of period performance and the timeless fun of a play within a play.
