‘THE FIFTEEN MINUTE HAMLET’ PROLOGUE “Shakespeare enters and bows | ‘Shakespeare For thiaralief, much thanks, | ‘Though | am native here, and to the manner born, {tis a custom more honoured in the breach ‘Than in the observance ‘Though this be'macness, yet there is method in it 1 must be cruel only to be kind; Hold, as were, the miror up to nature, ‘A countenance more in sorrow than in anger, Lady in sudiance shouts "Rotten" ‘The lady doth protest too much. Cat will mew, and dogg will have his day! ‘He bows again and exits| Francisco! Horatio | Franciscof Horatio Bernardo/ Marcellus Claudius 3 ‘SCENE 1 “A castle battlement. Thunder and wind. Two guards, Bernardol Marcellus and Francisco/Horstio enter ‘What, has this thing appeared again tonight? Peace, b/esk thee off : look whers it comes again. (He points off loft.) Looks it not like the King? By heaven, I charge thee, speak! (he points and locks let} "Tis here, (he points and Jooks centve) ‘Tia there. (he looks right) “Tis gone. 8 the morn in russet mantie clad the dew of yon high eastern hill Lot us impart what wa have seen tonight Unto young Hamlet They exit. SCENE 2 A room of state within the castle. A flourish of trumpets 28 Claudius and Gertrude enter ‘Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death ‘The memory be green ‘THE FIFTEEN MINUTE HAMLET 7 Horatlo Hamlet Horatio Hamlet | Hamiet Horatio Hamiet Hamlet anters. . ‘our sometime sister, now our Queen, Have wo taken to wife, . But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son— A\littlo more than kin, and less than kind, Claudius and Gertrude exit. © that this too too solid flesh would melt! ‘That It should come to this—but two months dead 1 So loving to my mother: Fraitty, thy name is woman! Married with mine uncle, my father’s brother. ‘The funeral beked meats did coldly furnish forth ‘The marriage tables. Horatio rushes on. ‘My lord, | think | saw him yesternight— ‘The King, your father—upon the platform where we watched, “Tis very strange. ‘Armed, my lord— A.countenance more In sorrow then in anger. My father's spirit in arms? All is not well, ‘Would the night were come! i Hamlet and Horatio exit to the parapet, » SCENE 3 The castle battlements st night. There isthe noise of carousing, cannon, fireworks. Horatio end Hamlet ‘appour on the parapet, The King doth wake tonight and takes his rouse, Though | am native here and to the manner born, {tis custom more honoured in the breach Than In the observance. There isthe sound of wind Look, my lord, it comes. (He points) The Ghost enters. Angels and ministers of grace defend us! ‘Something is rotten in the state of Denmark ‘Alas, poor ghost.Ghost | Hamiet Ghost | Hamiet Potonius, “Ophelia Polonius Hamiet Polonius Hamlet Polonius Hamlet ‘THE FIFTEEN MINUTE HAMLET Now " (© my prophetic soul! Mine uncle? The Ghost exits (To Horatio) There ase more things in heaven and earth ‘Than are dreamt of in yaur philosophy. Horatio exits. Herestter | shall think meet To put an antic disposition on. The time Is out of joint. O cursed spite ‘That ever I was botn to set it right | Hamlet exits. SCENE 4 i Atoom witnin the castle. There js a flourish of trumpets, leading into flute and harpsichord muzic. Polonius ‘enters and immediately Ophelia rushes on’ How now, Ophelia, what's the matter? My lord, as | was sewing in my chamber, Lord Hamlet with his doublet all unbreced, no hat upon his head, pale as his shirt, his knocking each other, and with # look £0 piteous, he comes before me, love? ave found the very cause of Hamlet's lunacy, Hamlet enters as Ophelia exits. Look wivere sadiy the poor wretch comes reading, What do you read, my lord? Words, words, words. ‘Though this be madness, yet there is method in it. Jam but mad north northwast: when the wind is southerly 1 know a hawk from a handsaw. The actors are come hither, my lord. (He goes) ‘We'll hear a piay tomorrow. have heard that guiity creazures sitting at a play Have by tie very cunning of the scene THE FIFTEEN MINUTE HAMLET 9 Ophelia Hamlet Claudius, Hamlet, Gonrude, Hamlet- Been struck s0 t0 the soul that presently ‘They have proclaimed their malefactions. Ti have these players play something Uke the murder of my father before mine uncle, {fhe but bench, | know my course, ‘The play's the thing ‘Wherein Fi catch the conacience of the King. Pause, To be, oF not to be (he puts « dagger to his heart) _ Claudius and Ophelia enter. ‘that isthe question, My lord— Got thee to # nunnery! ‘Ophelia and Hamlet exit, Love? His affections do not that way tond ‘There's something in his soul (O’er'which his melancholy sits on brood. ‘He shall with speed to England. Claudius exits, é SCENE 5 A hall within the castle, A flourish of trumpets heralds ‘the entrance of Hamlet and Ophelia, Marcellus and Horatio who are joking together, Cludivs and Gertrude, (To Imaginary players) Speak the speech, | pray you. as 1 bronounced it to you: trippingly on the tongue. Hold, as ‘Twere, the mitror up to nature, Everyone sits to watch imaginary play. Masque music is huard, {To Gertnude) Madam, how like you the play? ‘The lady doth protest too much, methinks. He poisons him in the garden for his estate. You shall see ‘anon how the murderer gets the love of Gonzago's wife. Claudius rises.Hamiet Polonius ‘THE FIFTEEN MINUTE HAMLET ‘SCENE 6 The Queen's apartment. Pofontus slips behind the orras as it is ised. Lute music Is heard, Hamlet and Gertrude enter, | must be cruel only to be kind. Good night, Mother. Hamlet exits dragging Polonius, Gertrude exits, ‘sobbing. The arras is cropped. SCENE 7 Another room in the castle, Flourish of trumpets as Claudius and Hemlet enter, Now, Hamlet, where's Polonius? At supper, ‘THE FIFTEEN MINUTE HAMLET 1" Claudius Claudius Ophelia Laortes Hamlet Hamlet, this deed must send thes hence. ‘Therefore prepare thyself, Everything is bent for England, Hamlet exis. * And England, if my love thou holds't at aught, ‘Thou mayst not coldly set our sov'reign process, ‘The prosent death of Hamlet. Do it, England! Cloudius exits, Interlude At sea. See music. Hamlet enters on parapet. swaying a8 # on w ship's bridge. Sex music ends. Hamlet exits. SCENE 8 Yet another room in the caste. Flourish of trumpets os Claudius and Lacrtes enter, Where is my father? Dead. 4 Ophelie enters in mad trance, singing. Lute music i heard. ‘They bore him barefaced on the bier, heat dry up my brains—O kind Siste Ophelia falls to gro Hadk't thou thy wits, and dids't persuade revenge Itcould not move thus ‘And where the offence 1 great axe fall Claudius and Laertes exit. Gravestone rises to hide Ophelia. Bell tolls four times, SCENE 9 A churchyard. A Gravedigger and Hernlet enter. Ere we were two days old at saa, a pirate of very warlike ‘appointment gave us chase. in the grapple | boarded them,a THE FIFTEEN MINUTE HAMLET ‘On the instant they got cloat of our ship; 40 # alone became their prisoner, They have dealt with me like thieves of mercy. is he that builds stronger than either the mason, the : shipwright of the carpenter? | Hamlet A gravemaker. The houses he makes will last till Doomsday. Gravedigger gives skull to Hamlet. : ‘Whose was it? Gravedigger This eame skull, Si, was Yorick's skull, tho King’s jester. Hamlet Alas, poor Yorick. (He returns skull to Gravedigger) But It ‘soft—that is Leertes (He withdraws to side). ? Laartes enters, © Laertes What ceremony else? Lay her in the earth, ‘And from her fair and unpolluted flesh May violets spring. {tol thee, churlish priest Chauitnis and Gertrade enter ‘A ministering angel shall my sister be ‘When thou lest howiing. {Hamlet (offstage) What, the fair Ophelis ? Laertes 0 treble woe. Hold off the earth awhile, Till have caught her once more in my arms, | Hamlet ! ‘What is he whose grief bears such an emphasis? / i This is 1, Hamlet the Dano | Laeres The davil take thy soul, | They grapple. Hamlet Away thy hand! Claudius and Gertrude pull them apart. Gauge > Hamiet Hamlet! (Speaking together) Hamlet ‘Loved Ophelia. What wilt thou do for her? Gertrude © bo is mad, Laertes! Claudius, Gertrude and Laertes exit, , Hamlet The cat will mew, and dog will have his day : He exits, Gravestone is dropped. ‘THE FIFTEEN MINUTE HAMLET 13 SCENE 10 A Hall a the castle, A flourish of trumpets as Harntot ‘enters. Hamnlet te come, it itbe not to come, i willbe now sit be not now vet it will come, The readinss isa ‘Laortes enters with Osric bearing swords followed by Claudius and Gertrude with goblets. ‘Come on, Sirl Laetes . Come, my lord, Fanfare of trumpets, Laertes and Hamlet draw swords ‘and duel, Hamiet ‘One, ‘No, Hamiet Judgement? Onc A bit, # very palpable hit. Claudius ‘Stay, give me a drink. Hamlet, this peat! is thine, here's to thy health. (tHe drops pear! in goblet) Give him the cup. Gertrude: The Queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamist. », ~., Guitruade takes the cup Claudius Gertrude, do not drink| Gortrude twill, my lord, (She drinks) Laertes ‘My lord, il hit him now, Have at you, now! Hamlet end Laertes grapple and fight. Claudius Pert them, they are incensed. Thby bleed on both sides. Osric and Clauaius part them, Osrie exits, Laertes | am justly ki ‘own treachery. (He falls) Gertrude The drink, the drink! 1am poisoned! (She dies) Hamlet Treachery! Seek it Fostinbras enters.16 | Leones L j Hantot | Laortos © Hamlet © Fortinbras ‘THE FIFTEEN MINUTE HAMLET Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Ha ...m... (He dies) 1 Ha turns to face away trom audience, Go, bid the soldiers shoot, ! Four shots heard from off stage, All stand, bow once and exit. END, i THE ENCORE A stagehand enters with a placerd bearing the hig ‘Encor”, He parades acous the sage and ext A Hourish of trumpets. Claudius and Gertrude enter, (ur sometime sister, now our Queen, Homiet enters. . have we taken to wife. Mo ‘That it should come to this " Claualus snd Gertrude exit. Sound of wind. Horatio enters. My ord | saw him yestemight— Ghost enters above. ‘THE FIFTEEN MINUTE HAMLET 15 Ghost - Hamlet Potonius Hamlet At Gertrude Polonius. Claudius Lom thy father’s spirit. The serpent that did sting thy father’s life. Look where saly the poor wretch comes. Potonius exits, running. Hamlet enters. | have heard that guilty creatures sitting at a play Have by the very cunning of the scene been struck. Enter Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, Marcellus and Horatio joking. All sit to watch imaginary play. Whe but blench, | know my course ‘Masque music, Cleudius rises, ‘The King rises! Give o'er the play! 1 Exount All except Gertrude and Hamlet. 'll take the ghost's word for a thousand pounds. Polonius enters, goes behind arras. Short Howrish of ttumpets. Mother, you have my father much offended. Help! Help, Hot (he stabs Polonius) Dead for a ducet, dead | Polonius falls dead off stage. Gertrude end Hamlet exit, Short flourish of trumpets. Claudius enters followed by Hamlet, Hamlet, this deod must send thee hence Hamlet exit. Do it, England. ‘Claudius exits. Ophelia enters and falls to the ground. Gravestone rises to hide her, Bell tolls twice. Grave- digger and Hamlet enter.ae ‘THE FIFTEEN MINUTE HAMLET Hamtet A pirate gave us chase. | alone became thelr prisoner. (He takes skull from Gravedigger) Ales poor Yorick—but soft (He raturns skull to Gravedigger)—This is 1, Hamlet the Dane! Gravedigger exits, Laertes enters. Laertes The devil take thy soul! Thay grapple, then break. Enter Osric between them with swords. They draw, Enter Claudius and Gertrude : with goblets. ; Hamiet Come on, Sirt Laertes and Hamlet fight. Pause. Osric A hit a very palpable hit! Claudius Give him the cup. Gertrude, do not drink| ; Gertrude 1. am poisoned ? (She dies) Laertes Hamlet, thou art alain? (He dias) Hamlet Then venom to thy work! (He kills Claudius) The réstis silence. (He dies) Two shots off stage. END Printed in Great Britain by Latimer Trend & Company Lid, Plymouth i