As the sun dipped behind the spires of the school, the day shifted into evening—and with it, the festival took on a dreamlike glow. Lanterns floated above the courtyard like fireflies in a midsummer sky, and a soft melody played across the grounds, carrying laughter and warmth into the crisp air.
But inside the school auditorium… a different kind of tension brewed.
There were only thirty minutes until showtime.
Backstage, the cast of A Midsummer Night's Dream was in the final stages of preparation. Costumes were straightened, props double-checked, and the air buzzed with a mixture of adrenaline, panic, and anticipation.
Alex stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the cuffs of her tailored costume—proper nobleman's attire with a doublet and high boots, dyed in rich forest greens and deep browns. Her long hair had been styled into a low ponytail, and light contouring defined the sharp lines of her face.
She looked every bit the charming man Lysander was meant to be.
And apparently… everyone noticed.
"Wow, who's the guy playing Lysander?" whispered one of the volunteer crew girls near the curtain.
"Not a boy! That's our Alexandra!" her friend replied, barely able to tear her eyes away. "She looks hot."
Alex could feel the stares even without looking. The glances. The whispers. The not-so-subtle swoons from girls—and a few boys—passing by. She adjusted her collar smugly. Yeah… not bad.
Then came the moment that nearly broke the backstage illusion.
Titania had entered.
Daman, despite all odds and protests, had transformed.
He wore an ethereal, white-gold robe that shimmered with every movement, layers flowing like mist. Floral accents curled over his shoulders, and a glittering circlet rested gently in his styled hair. The power of stage makeup had softened his sharper features just enough, highlighting his lashes and eyes in a way that made him look—there was no better word—enchanting.
But the robe did nothing to hide his tall, muscular frame. If anything, it emphasized it.
He was beauty and brawn incarnate. A Titania that could crush your skull and your heart at the same time.
Alex blinked.
"Okay… why is he so… pretty?'
"Yo, my fair maiden!" she greeted, strutting over with her best gentlemanly swagger. "You look like a fairy."
Daman gave her a flat look. "Titania is a fairy."
Alex leaned casually against a prop pillar, dropping her voice an octave. "I must be truly blessed tonight. May I have this dance, my dear fairy?"
Daman raised an unimpressed brow. "You're insufferable."
Alex grinned. "Charming, though?"
Before he could retort, a hand clamped onto her shoulder.
"Save that flirting for Hermia, Lysander," came Mike's dry voice as he dragged Alex away by the collar. "She is Titania, not Hermia. Get it together."
Alex stumbled back, laughing. "You are no fun, Mike!"
Mike didn't even dignify that with a response.
Everyone was dressed perfectly now. Catherine, as Hermia, looked like a noble daughter of Athens in a rich burgundy gown. Tracy's Helena had elegance, draped in softer tones of rose and cream, and her long curled hair was done by three different juniors in a tag team effort. Julian, from Class C, was regal in his dark robes as Oberon—his sharp features and cold delivery making him a perfect fairy king. And Miles, ever the trickster, bounced around with fluttering wings and a mischievous grin, fully embodying Puck.
Daniel truly looked the part as Bottom, his donkey head fitting snugly over his curls. He grumbled, but the glint in his eye said he was ready to steal the show.
Even Mike himself wore a dark hooded robe and had committed to his stage manager aesthetic like a shadowy director in the wings.
The drama club had pulled out all the stops for this performance. Weeks of practice, days of costume preparation, and way too much of their budget had gone into bringing this chaotic dream to life.
And now… it was almost time.
The stage was set. The audience was filling in. The lights would soon dim.
And their school was about to witness the most bizarre, unforgettable rendition of A Midsummer Night's Dream it had ever seen.
The auditorium lights dimmed, casting a warm golden glow across the velvet stage curtains. The seats filled steadily as students, teachers, and parents took their places, the air humming with excitement and anticipation. Whispers filled the darkened space—about the festival, about the drama, about who would embarrass themselves on stage.
"Good evening, everyone!" came the clear voice of the student council president—Xavior, standing center stage in a smart uniform, mic in hand. "Welcome to Edevane School's Cultural Festival Night Show!"
Cheers erupted. "We've had an amazing day so far, and tonight's performances promise to end it with a bang! First up, we have a special traditional dance performed by the Calligraphy and Tea Ceremony Club!"
Polite applause followed as the curtains parted, revealing a serene display of fans, kimonos, and flowing movements under the soft glow of lantern props. It was elegant, calming… and entirely opposite of what came next.
As the dance ended, the audience was treated to a short instrumental interlude, before the stage went dark again.
Backstage, the drama club was a mess of nerves and controlled chaos.
"Where's my hat?!"
"Why is there glitter on Puck's wings?"
"Daniel, stop eating the grapes—they're props!"
Then came the familiar voice of Mike, the ever-stressed director of the drama club, echoing from backstage.
"Lights! Places! And please—no one trip on the dresses this time."
After the announcement, the curtain rose again.
Onstage, Jasper, radiating the natural authority that had landed him the role of Duke Theseus, strode in with a measured pace. Beside him, Priya, her headstrong nature perfect for Hippolyta, moved with quiet grace. Catherine, her face a picture of elegant distress as Hermia, and Ethan, whose self-assured smirk as Demetrius almost made you dislike him even before he spoke his lines.
And then there was Alex as Lysander, her expressive delivery and impassioned gaze bringing a quiet intensity to every scene she was in. Every student on stage seemed to embody their character with uncanny ease, turning the school play into something that felt far grander.
Julian, radiating a subtle, almost unsettling, charisma as Oberon, glided into view.
And, Titania's arrival stole the show.
Daman floated across the stage, majestic and eerily beautiful. His voice, slightly lowered, rang with authority.
Then came Daniel, stomping in with donkey ears and snorting like a horse.
"Whooooo's ready for love?!" he shouted, striking a pose.
It took everything in the audience not to lose it right there.
Titania raised a single hand, deadpan. "I should have asked Oberon to curse me with blindness too."
Daniel gave his all into his acting— "I have had a most rare vision! I have had a dream, past the wit of man to say what dream it was!"
He neighed dramatically.
The audience howled with laughter when Daman gave him the most reluctant, "romantic" gaze in history.
Then chasing, mistaken identities, and over-the-top confessions flew in rapid-fire.
"I love you more!" Ethan's Demetrius cried.
"No, I love you more!" Tracey's Helena replied dramatically.
"What just happened?" someone in the audience muttered.
"It's Shakespeare..." their neighbor whispered. "Roll with it."
Finally, the enchantments were undone. Lovers reunited. Miles as Puck gave the final monologue.
Miles stepped forward, bowed, and with a wink said, "If we shadows have offended, think but this—and all is mended: that you have but slumber'd here while these visions did appear."
Applause thundered.
---
The curtain fell, only to rise once more as the entire cast walked onto the stage, side by side.
Alex held out a hand to Daman with a grin. He smiled back and took her hand. Tracey quickly took Alex's other hand and gave Daman a stink-eye.
Catherine elbowed Daniel, who curtsied so deeply he almost fell over. Julian, Miles, and Ethan waved at the crowd.
The juniors who played the other minor characters, peeked from behind, eyes wide and excited.
Together, they all bowed.
The hall erupted in cheers, applause echoing loud and proud.
It had been silly, chaotic, emotional, and theatrical in every way possible.
A perfect performance.