HAMLET IN HALF AN HOUR.
(Prepared for the Halls in compliance with the suggestions of Mr. Plunket's Committee.)
SCENE—An open space outside Elsinore. View of the Palace and the Battlements. HAMLET discovered talking to the Ghost.
Ham. And is it really within thy power to show me illustrations to the story that has so much interested me?
Ghost. It is! Behold!
[He waves his bâton and a rock becomes transparent, displaying a tableau of the play-scene in "Hamlet."]
Ham. Ah, how well do I remember the occasion! It was after I had met thee, and thou hadst told me the sad story of thy decease by my Uncle. And then I contrived this device to catch the conscience of the King! Thou art sleeping calmly, and a cloaked figure is pouring poison—real poison—into thy ear! and look, the King is greatly disturbed! Ah, how it all comes back to me! (The rock resumes its normal condition.) And canst thou show me more?
Ghost. Ay, and I will! Behold!
[He waves his bâton, and another rock discovers a tableau representing the Burial of OPHELIA.
Ham. (deeply interested). Why, these must be the maimed rites that were all that was given to my poor lost love—the lady I desired to visit a nunnery—to OPHELIA. And see there are the comic Grave-diggers. Show me more. Show me more!
[The vision fades away like its predecessor.
Ghost. I would, did not the decision of statute law limit the time. And now I must away. But mind, my son—six principal characters, and no more! Thou wilt remember!
Ham. Ay, marry; and yes, I will! (The Ghost disappears.) And so I have to meet LAERTES at a fencing-bout. I will!
Trumpets. Enter King, Queen, LAERTES, OSRIC and Court.
King. HAMLET, all hail! I wish thee joy! May'st thou be the victor at to-day's trial of skill!
Ghost (heard from below). Remember! Six principal characters. He and thou and I are three. Three! Six, and no more!
Hamlet (aside). Peace, perturbed spirit!
Laertes (approaching). My good Lord, I wish thee well, for I do love thee.
Ghost (from below). Four! Remember—Four! Six, and no more! and mind the time goes apace. Ten minutes of the thirty gone!
Hamlet (aside). Peace, perturbed spirit! (Aloud.) The foils!
Osric (approaching). My Lord, the weapons!
Ghost (as before). He maketh five! Beware! Six, and no more!
Ham. (aside). Rest, perturbed spirit! (Aloud.) I will take this one!
[HAMLET and LAERTES take the foils and salute.
King. Now will I drink to HAMLET after the first bout. OSRIC, be ready to give him a cup when he is tired! Mind me well. (Aside.) The cup of which HAMLET shall drink contains poison. Ha! ha! ha! A time will come! I triumph!
[HAMLET and LAERTES fence and drop their foils.
Osric.—Let me return them, good Sirs!
[He gives the weapons in such a fashion that they are exchanged.
King. Now will I drink to HAMLET. Give him the other cup.
Ham. Nay, your pardon. Sire. I am fat and scant of breath, but I will crush a cup with thee, later!
Queen. Give me the cup. I will drink to thee, HAMLET! [Drinks.
Ghost (as before). I hear the well-remembered voice of thy mother, boy! That makes six. The limit's reached!
Ham. (aside). Rest, perturbed spirit! (Aloud.) And now, good LAERTES, I am at thy service.
[They fight. HAMLET is wounded.
Osric. A hit, a hit, a palpable hit!
Ham. (annoyed). I am hurt, and by thee!
[Fights fiercely and wounds LAERTES.
Queen. Oh! I am poisoned! [Dies.
Ham. What, treachery! Ah, thou brute!
[Rushes up and kills King with his foil.
Laertes. I am dying! Forgive me, HAMLET. It was the doing of the King. [Dies.
Ghost (as before). Twenty and nine minutes have expired! The time is all but up!
Ham. (aside, with difficulty). Rest, perturbed spirit! Farewell, farewell, a long farewell to all my—
Ghost (as before). Ring down! The time is up!
(Quick Curtain)
