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| LANDLESS PLAY COMPETITION! "SO BAD, IT'S GOOD!" |
PLAY TITLE: Hamlet Returns
PLAYWRIGHT: Alan Hoffman
SIMON SHAKESPEARE SAYS:
"zzzzz."
cousin Will's play."
cousin Will's play."
PAULA SHAKESPEARE SAYS:
"What?... Hamlet's not
dead?... (alcoholic
drug-induced babble, etc.)"
"zzzzz."
cousin Will's play."
cousin Will's play."
PAULA SHAKESPEARE SAYS:
"What?... Hamlet's not
dead?... (alcoholic
drug-induced babble, etc.)"
"Hamlet suddenly wakes while Claudius is
addressing his court and finds that - rather than
being in the 11th or 13th or 16th century - all the
events are taking place in 2008.
Also, Hamlet seems to know everything in his
future - as if it had already happened once: his
father appearing as a ghost, his attempts of
revenge on Claudius, and the deaths of himself,
his mother, Ophelia, Polonius, and Laertes.
Not wishing events to play out as they did before,
this wiser Hamlet consults Horatio. They, with
Ophelia's help, attempt to deal with Claudius
without the resulting chaos that transpired the first
time. In their efforts, they find themselves leaving
the familiar story of Hamlet and stumbling across
characters from other Shakespeare plays -
including Prospero, Puck, and the witches from
Macbeth.
Also, there's a mysterious figure, working behind
the shadows, who seems to have gone through a
great deal of effort to make sure this "replay"
would occur (and it's not Shakespeare). Along with
attempting to redirect fate toward a different
outcome, the trio search for the identity of this
mysterious benefactor who wanted to give Hamlet
the opportunity of a "do-over."
addressing his court and finds that - rather than
being in the 11th or 13th or 16th century - all the
events are taking place in 2008.
Also, Hamlet seems to know everything in his
future - as if it had already happened once: his
father appearing as a ghost, his attempts of
revenge on Claudius, and the deaths of himself,
his mother, Ophelia, Polonius, and Laertes.
Not wishing events to play out as they did before,
this wiser Hamlet consults Horatio. They, with
Ophelia's help, attempt to deal with Claudius
without the resulting chaos that transpired the first
time. In their efforts, they find themselves leaving
the familiar story of Hamlet and stumbling across
characters from other Shakespeare plays -
including Prospero, Puck, and the witches from
Macbeth.
Also, there's a mysterious figure, working behind
the shadows, who seems to have gone through a
great deal of effort to make sure this "replay"
would occur (and it's not Shakespeare). Along with
attempting to redirect fate toward a different
outcome, the trio search for the identity of this
mysterious benefactor who wanted to give Hamlet
the opportunity of a "do-over."
SAMPLE DIALOGUE:
Note: All excerpts and other items posted on this website are the exclusive intellectual
property of the competing playwrights, provided for the sole purpose of gathering
feedback for this contest. All rights reserved.
CLAUDIUS
Though yet my dear brother's death the memory be green, for
the good of Denmark, I thought it prudent to take over as
king and marry his widow . . . Thank you everyone for the
lovely cards and wedding gifts - and no - they are not tax
deductible . . . Now meanwhile, in foreign affairs,
Fortinbras from Norway wants the lands back that we took from
his father during the war. Personally I think the pipsqueak
is a textbook definition of a sore loser who has a lot of
hang-ups because he has a funny-sounding name.
LAERTES
Your highness?
CLAUDIUS
Yes Laertes?
LAERTES
I ask your permission to return to France. I came to Denmark
to attend your coronation. Now that my duty is done, I wish
to - as the French say - skeedaddle.
Note: All excerpts and other items posted on this website are the exclusive intellectual
property of the competing playwrights, provided for the sole purpose of gathering
feedback for this contest. All rights reserved.
CLAUDIUS
Though yet my dear brother's death the memory be green, for
the good of Denmark, I thought it prudent to take over as
king and marry his widow . . . Thank you everyone for the
lovely cards and wedding gifts - and no - they are not tax
deductible . . . Now meanwhile, in foreign affairs,
Fortinbras from Norway wants the lands back that we took from
his father during the war. Personally I think the pipsqueak
is a textbook definition of a sore loser who has a lot of
hang-ups because he has a funny-sounding name.
LAERTES
Your highness?
CLAUDIUS
Yes Laertes?
LAERTES
I ask your permission to return to France. I came to Denmark
to attend your coronation. Now that my duty is done, I wish
to - as the French say - skeedaddle.
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