15 Minute Hamlet
by John Stoppard
Prologue
Shakespeare: For thie relief, much thanks.
Though I am natice here, and to the manner born,
It is a custom more honoured in the breach
than in the observance
well.
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
To be, or not to be, that is the question.
there are more things in heaven and earth
than are dreamt of in your philosphy -
There's a divinity that shapes our ends,
rough hew them how we will though this be madness, yet there is method in it.
I must be cruel only to be kind;
Hold, as t'were, the mirror up to nature.
A countenance more in sorrow than in Anger
(LADY in audience shouts "Marmalade.")The lady doth protest too much.
cat will mew, and dogg will have his day!
(Bows and exits. End of prologue)
A castle battlement. Thunder and wind. Enter two Guards:
BERNARDO / MARCELLUS and FRANCISCO / HORATIO
GUARDS on the platform.
Bernardo: Who's there?
Francisco: Nay answer me.
Bernardo: Long live the king. Get thee to bed.
Francisco: For this relief much thanks.
Bernardo: What, has this thing appeared again tonight?
Francisco: Peace, break thee off: look where it comes again!
Bernardo: Looks it not like the King?
Francisco: Bye heaven, I charge thee, speak!
Bernardo: (looks and points left) 'Tis here.
Francisco: (looks and points right) 'Tis there.
Bernardo: (looks right) 'Tis gone.
Francisco: But look, the morn in russet mantle calde
Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastern hill.
(on "But Look" a cut-out sun shoots up over the stage left screen, and descends here.)
Bernardo: Let us impart what we have seen tonight
unto young hamlet. (Exuent and end scene.)
A room of state within the castle. A cut-out crown hinges over stage left screen. Flourish
of trumpets. Enter claudius and gertrude.
Claudius: Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother'ss death
the memory be green
(enter Hamlet)
our sometime sister, now our queen
have we taken to wife.
But how, my cousin Hamlet, and my son-
Hamlet: a little more than kin, and less than Kind.
(Exit Claudius and Gertrude)
O that this too too solid flesh would melt!
that it should come to this - but two months dead!
So loving to my mother: frailty, thy name is woman!
married with mine uncle, my father's brother.
the funeral baked meats did coldly furnish forth
the marriage tables. (Enter Horatio)
Horatio: My lord, I think I saw him yesternight -
the king, your father - upon the platform where we watched.
Hamlet: 'Tis very strange
Horatio: Armed my lord -
a countenance more in sorrow than in anger.
Hamlet: My father's spirit in arms? All is not well
Would the night were come!
(End scene)
Castle Battlements at night, Horatio and Hamlet appear
Hamlet: The king doth wake tonight and takes his rouse,
though I am native here and to the manner born,
it is a custom more honoured in the breach
than in observance (wind noise)
Horatio: Look, my lord, it comes (points)
(enter ghost)
Hamlet: Angels and ministers of grace defend us!
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark!
Alas, poor ghost.
Ghost: I am thy fathers spirit
Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.
Hamlet: Murder?
Ghost: The serpent that did sting thy father's life.
Now ears his crown.
Hamlet: O my prophetic soul? Mine uncle?
(exist ghost. to horatio)
There are more things in heaven and earth
than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
(exit Horatio)
Hereafter I shall think meet
to put an antic disposition on.
The time is out of joint. O cursed spite
that ever I was born to set it right!
(Exit Hamlet. End Scene)
