The January People’s Choice goes to…..
The people have spoken… The January People’s Choice Award goes to Scott Mullen for his short play, HAMLET AT THE PROM, presented as a staged reading at Monday Night PlayGround on January 13 at the Broadwater Main Stage. Congratulations, Scott!
Courtesy of Mr. Mullen, we’re pleased to share the first two pages from the award-winning script. Enjoy!
HAMLET AT THE PROM
a prequel to HAMLET
by
Scott Mullen
Cast:
HAMLET, a very moody teenage prince.
OPHELIA, a teenage girl.
KATHERINA (30s-40s). The ghost of Hamlet’s great-aunt.
Setting:
A ballroom.
HAMLET stands, dressed in black, interesting hair, perhaps a bit of eye shadow. There are balloons scattered around him; he holds one, looking down at it. Behind him, OPHELIA comes in, in a dress. She eyes him.
HAMLET
Alas, poor Yorick. I knew him. He was a young man of most excellent wit, who could make me laugh with just a twitch of his mind. But no more.
He listens to the balloon.
HAMLET
Now thou art silent. Now thou sayeth naught.
OPHELIA
Hamlet?
HAMLET
Ophelia.
OPHELIA
Who are you talking to?
HAMLET
This balloon – someone hath drawn on it. The image looks like Yorick. My old friend.
He shows her.
OPHELIA
If one squints.
She bats it away. Hamlet watches it.
HAMLET
And yet his memory can be so easily struck away. Like us, I suppose. One day, we will all be no more.
OPHELIA
What are you talking about?
HAMLET
Death. One moment, Yorick was young and free, the next… gone. Like that balloon.
OPHELIA
Yorick is over there.
HAMLET
… What?
OPHELIA
Dancing with Beatrice.
HAMLET
Ah, so he is. But some day, ash.
OPHELIA
You are gloomy. What are you wearing?
HAMLET
Dost thou like it?
OPHELIA
You have the air of… a bad mood.
HAMLET
It is my mood. Dark, and forlorn. I call it… “gothic”.
They ruminate on that. Shrug.
OPHELIA
You’re a prince! There’s no reason for you to be dark and forlorn.
HAMLET
We are all going to die.
OPHELIA
Someday. Not today. Not at prom.
HAMLET
… And I’ve lost Yorick’s balloon.
OPHELIA
Cheer up! Your life is amazing. Your parents are awesome, your uncle seems like a great guy, and you live in a castle!
HAMLET
It all seems like a passing fancy.
OPHELIA
Let us dance!
HAMLET
Hamlet does not dance.
OPHELIA
Ah. How does Helena f eel about that?
HAMLET
I believe she understands.
OPHELIA
Sure she does.
Join us on February 1o for the next Monday Night PlayGround! Click here for more info.