Shakespeare wrote this fantastic comedy in 1594. It features Lysander and Hermia, whose love is thwarted by Hermia's father, who wishes to marry her off to Demetrius, himself loved by Helena. In a magical forest, the couple cross paths with Obéron, king of the elves, who is quarreling with his wife and in possession of love potions.
Direction
Averty's wild visual inventions — painted backdrops, floating heads, pure television.
Production
Studio-bound magic that embraces fakery instead of hiding it.
Director
Jean-Christophe Averty
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Averty was notorious for pushing television's visual limits; this aired on French ORTF when color TV was still experimental.
The painted forest sets deliberately echo 18th-century stage conventions, making this a meta-commentary on theatrical illusion itself.
FR
