The January People’s Choice Award goes to…

The people have spoken… The January People’s Choice Award goes to Allie Costa for her play, Remembrance, presented as a staged reading at Monday Night PlayGround on January 8th live at Broadwater Second Stage and simulcast via Vimeo Livestream. Congratulations, Allie!
Courtesy of Allie, we’re pleased to share the first two pages from the award-winning script. Enjoy!

REMEMBRANCE
by Allie Costa

DRAMATIS PERSONAE
Hamlet – Male. A tortured soul full of despair. Any ethnicity.
Ophelia – Female. Honest and kind. Remarkably well-adjusted. Modern. Any ethnicity.

SETTING: Denmark, in a fashion. Evening.
RECOMMENDED CLOSING SONG: Never Doubt I Love by Melanie Doane

AT RISE:
It is late evening. Crickets chirp in the darkness. A spotlight appears on HAMLET, dressed in dark clothes, brooding on the front stoop of Elsinor. He tears his gaze away from his clenched fists to look at the audience.

HAMLET
Alone, and yet alive. Is this my lot in life, then? To be the teller of the tale, but not the writer himself?
To watch as others move to action while I remain frozen, lost in a hideous maze of death and despair?
Is there no one who will guide me?

From the shadows, a voice:

OPHELIA
(happy, casual greeting) Hey, Hamlet!

Hamlet gasps and spins around. The lights widen and brighten just a touch as OPHELIA steps onto the porch. She is dressed in modern clothes, something cute and comfortable with a floral motif or accessory. She is relaxed and happy.

OPHELIA (CONTINUED)
(normal tone, just curious) Who you talking to?

HAMLET
(stricken) Ophelia?

OPHELIA
What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.

As she speaks, she steps toward Hamlet; he steps back.

HAMLET
I did. I do. You are the very likeness of my dear Ophelia.

He reaches towards her with a shaking hand.

OPHELIA
Did you drink the punch? ‘Cause I’m pretty sure my brother spiked that.

Hamlet touches her cheek and is dumbstruck.

HAMLET
The flesh – ‘tis warm! But how?

OPHELIA
Well, you know, it’s summer.

HAMLET
As warm as I and twice as fair.

OPHELIA
Do you have a fever? Poor thing.

She touches his forehead with her hand. He reverently takes her hand in both of his.

HAMLET
‘Twas ever a beauty as sad as she?

OPHELIA
Nah, I’m good. You should probably lie down, though.

HAMLET
No. If this be but a dream, then I shall remain awake.

OPHELIA
That doesn’t make sense. Let me go get my dad.

She turns toward the house; Hamlet stops her.

HAMLET
Your father?

Join us for the next round of PlayGround-LA on February 12th! For more info, click here!