This weekend, you are to be memorizing ALL of your lines. Of course, you will still need your scripts to annotate, make blocking notes, etc, but it will be quite liberating for you to perform without reading.
While you are memorizing, look to YouTube for other performances of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Watch at least 5 different presentations of the scenes in which you play (meaning, if you are a Rude Mechanical, you need only watch the scenes in which the Rude Mech's play).
ANALYSIS:
For each scene, write a sentence or two in which you describe what makes the performance unique. Be sure to identify which performance it is on which you are commenting. What was the general performance strategy? The tone? The blocking? The use of physical space? Facial expressions? Interpretation?
APPLICATION:
Then, after analyzing the performances, list out 5 to 10 specific things that you will do in your performance which is inspired by what you have seen.
EXAMPLE:
ANALYSIS OF 1 SCENE:
The LeTourneau University Players portray the scene at Peter Quince's house with an almost militaristic rigidity. Each player stands at attention when their name is called, and Peter Quince marches up and down the line with the authority of a drill sergeant. It was funny in how Bottom the Weaver was not rigid, but rather loose and bouncy; the humor came in the contrast.
APPLICATION:
I don't think we should play it out so military, but I do like that some characters salute. It would be funny if Flute (of all people) would step up and salute Peter Quince, then fall out of the salute when he learns he must play a woman.
Here are some decent versions to use as starting points:
Rice University
1964 Rice University
William Hurt with Shakespeare in the Park
San Diego State
Georgia State
HRST
Moonwork Theater