AN ambitious gay musical fantasy inspired by “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Tom Gustafson’s “Were the World Mine” is far better in concept than execution. The shoestring budget hurts.

Tanner Cohen plays an openly gay teenager who is cast as Puck in a high school production of the Shakespeare classic.

As part of his preparations, he concocts Puck’s magic love potion – which he accidentally squirts into the eyes of Jonathon (Nathaniel David Becker), a hunky rugby player he fancies.

Soon our Puckish hero is turning much of the previously straight town into singing and dancing gay men and boys – sort of “High School Musical” for gays. Sadly, most of the performances are pretty amateurish except for Zelda Williams, daughter of Robin, who has a small role as the hero’s confidante.

Running time: 96 minutes. Not rated (sexuality). At the Cinema Village, 12th Street, east of Fifth Avenue.