Just as in a short story or poem, the author of a play is examining a theme or set of themes. And, as with a short story or poem, a play may be interpreted in different ways by different readers.
The themes of a play can be suggested in many ways.
First, look at the title of the play. Some titles give you quite broad hints as to theme: Proof and A Streetcar Named Desire, for example.
The characters of a play often represent larger ideas, as do Blanche and Stanley, in A Streetcar Named Desire, for example.
The conflicts between the characters can suggest themes, as the clash between Ronnie and Benjamin in Trying to Find Chinatown, for example, introduces the issue of whether ethnic identity is an issue of genetics or attitude.
Conflicts between characters and society or nature can also provide insight to themes. In A Midsummer Night's Dream, for example, Hermia wants to marry Lysander; her father wants her to marry Demetrius. This introduces the issue of whether marriage should be based on romantic love or on practical considerations.
Lines or exchanges of dialogue can also give clues to theme. In Proof, the arguments between Catherine and Hal all raise the issue of trust: in our dealings with the outside world, we must demand proof, but in our personal relationships, is it better to trust, or to ask for proof?
Look for hints about theme in the staging: the setting, the lighting, the music, and the props. In A Streetcar Named Desire, for example, Blanche's paper lanterns represent her desire to hide (and hide from) the truth about unpleasant things; her clothes represent her desire to seem like a "lady," but, like her, they are imitations, not real.
When you read a play, as when you read a short story or poem, read with an open, receptive mind. Usually, a play has more than one theme, and usually it asks more questions than it answers. Thus, many interpretations of theme can be correct, as long as they can be supported with evidence from the play.
Reading Shakespeare
Reading Shakespeare's plays can be difficult for contemporary audiences. The language has changed a lot in the last 400 years; sometimes reading a Shakespeare play feels like reading a foreign language. But there are a few things you can do to make it easier.
First, read a lot of Shakespeare. I know, I know, that sounds nuts. But it works. After you have read a few of his plays, you start to get used to the language and it starts getting a lot easier. That won't help you if A Midsummer Night's Dream is your first Shakespeare play, but there are a couple of things you can do right away, to make A Midsummer Night's Dream easier to understand.
Watch a movie version of the play. (This is in addition to reading the play of course!) It's best if you can see the play performed on the stage, as it was meant to be seen, but that may not be possible. A movie is the next best thing. These plays were meant to be watched, not read, so seeing the movie is not cheating. It simply makes it easier for you to see what's going on, and in many cases, seeing the play enacted makes it easier to understand. In the case of A Midsummer Night's Dream, it can be difficult to keep track of who is in love with whom at any given point; seeing the movie allows you to attach faces to the names, and makes it easier.
There have been several movie versions of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Probably the easiest one for you to find is the one made in 1999 by director Michael Hoffman, starring Kevin Kline and Michelle Pfeiffer. It's been changed a bit, and some of the performances are not all they could be, but it's pretty easy to follow, and Kevin Kline is very funny.
There is also a ballet version, made in 1966 and directed by George Ballanchine. I'm not sure it will help you understand the play any better, but it's beautiful to watch.
And an excellent version, but hard to find, is the 1968 movie directed by Peter Hall and starring, among others, Diana Rigg, Helen Mirren, and Ian Richardson.
Read the play aloud. Many times it's the spelling that throws you off, but when you say the words aloud, they make more sense.
Read a summary of the play. Many of them are available online. Helping to know what is happening makes it easier to deciper the language. (The New Folger Library editions I've recommended contain a summary of each scene.) Reading summaries or notes isn't cheating--as long as you read the play, too!
In the case of A Midsummer Night's Dream it sometimes helps to make notes and charts, detailing who is in love with whom, and why, at any given moment.
Ask questions. There is a class Message Board where you are supposed to post your answers to Discussion Questions. But you can use the Board to ask questions, too. Feel free to ask about anything you can't figure out. I check the boards daily, and if someone else doesn't answer your question, I will.
Remember that, in Shakespeare, it's not the plot that's important, but the execution. Shakespeare's plots are not new, and in some cases, they're pure soap opera. Sometimes it's so hard to read the plays that all of your attention is focused simply on figuring out what's happening. But save part of your brain for noticing the language and the complexities of the characters. Shakespeare isn't still read after all these years because he came up with original plots--he didn't. He's remembered because of the way he wrote the plays. You're going to find beautiful language in this play, and subtle and complex characters, and perfectly timed comedy and suspense.
In the New Folger Library edition of A Midsummer Night's Dream, there is a section in the Introduction called "Reading Shakespeare's Plays" containing information which will help you to read the plays more easily. Take a look at this--it's very helpful.
If you have any tips of your own for making the reading easier, please feel free to post them on the Message Board.