 When the Duke of Athens tries to separate young lovers Lysander and Hermia, insisting that Hermia instead marry Demetrius, the two lovers run off together. Meanwhile, Demetrius is pursued by Helena, who wants to marry Demetrius herself. Impish fairies from the woods make things even more complicated with a herb that, when placed on someone s eyes, causes that person to fall in love with the first creature he or she sees.