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SINGING THE BLUES “American Idol” approaches the end of one of its A&E weakest seasons, Page D2 HAMLETTHE TRAGEDY OF Cast of characters PRINCE OF DENMARK

TEXT BY JUDITH NEWMARK • Post-Dispatch Theater Critic > [email protected] > 314-340-8243 Claudius of King Hamlet Prince of Denmark Hamlet’s mother King of Denmark Hamlet’s father GRAPHIC BY bing! • www.bing.biz

Shakespeare Festival St. Louis marks its 10th anniversary with the drama that stands at the pinnacle of English literature: “Hamlet.” Here’s what you need to know — including the plot! When • Previews Wednesday and Thursday. Performances Friday-June 20, except Tuesdays. No performance June 5. Preshow entertainment at 6:30 nightly; showtime is at 8. Where • Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park, near the Art Museum. Seating • Bring a blanket or lawn chair or rent a chair ($10 for the fi rst section, $7 farther back). Come early to get a good spot. Food • Bring a picnic, order a boxed supper in advance (see website) or buy food and drink at the booths. Cost • The festival is free, but donations are welcome. Rosencrantz & Guildenstern More info • shakespearefestivalstlouis.org Counselor Polonius’ Polonius’ son Hamlet’s best friend Schoolmates of Hamlet to Claudius daughter

ACT 1 Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, is home 2 4 from college. His 1 father has died and 3 his mother, Queen Gertrude, has married his uncle, . Angry, hurt and confused, the prince But Hamlet suspects something is rotten in the mourns for his Other noble families are happier. The king’s state of Denmark. The ghost of King Hamlet tells father. “He was a counselor, Polonius, loves his daughter Ophelia the prince that he didn't simply die. No! His death man. Take him for all But he’s wrong — that and his son Laertes, who’s on his way to France. was murder most foul. He urges his son to take in all, I shall not look very night, he’ll see Polonius sends him off with lots of good advice: revenge against his brother and killer, Claudius, upon his like again.” his father's Ghost! “This above all: to thine own self be true.” but not Gertrude. “Leave her to heaven.”

ACT 2 5 7 8 6

Confiding in his dearest friend, Horatio, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern can’t find Hamlet admits the whole thing is hard to Gertrude and Claudius are worried about Polonius thinks he’s figured it out: It’s love. Hamlet out anything. Hamlet just tells them how believe. But why does that mean it can't Hamlet. He looks like a wreck, says weird is crazy in love with Ophelia. Polonius talks to the depressed he feels. But Rosencrantz and be true? “There are more things in things and sometimes won't say a word. They prince, who sounds deranged. But the old man Guildenstern know that Hamlet loves the heaven and earth, Horatio, than are beg his childhood friends, Rosencrantz and senses something: “Though this be madness, yet theater, so they’ve invited actors to give dreamt of in your philosophy.” Guildenstern, to find out what's wrong. there is method in’t.” a show at the castle.

ACT 3 Claudius and Polonius 9 make Ophelia wait where 11 12 10 Hamlet will run into her. But when he comes by, he’s not thinking of love. He’s thinking of suicide. “To be or not to be — that is the question ...” At first he seems happy to see Ophelia, but his mood Claudius thinks Hamlet is too dangerous Hamlet perks up and welcomes the actors abruptly changes and he to stay in Denmark. But the prince’s As the court gathers for the show, warmly, but they just make him feel insults her. Does he know mood certainly improves when he gets Hamlet flirts with Ophelia. Does he love worse. He thinks that actors, who are Claudius and Polonius are together with the actors. He’d like to be her after all? Then the play begins. It’s only pretending, express more feeling listening? Ophelia is very an actor himself! He chooses the play about a murderer who kills a duke and than he has shown for his dead father. upset! they’ll perform and coaches them. Don't marries his wife. Claudius gets the point! “O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!” overact, he tells them. He’s furious and storms off!

13 ACT 4 ACT 5 16 14 15

Hamlet finds Claudius in the chapel and won’t kill him Ophelia loses her mind. She wanders around the Hamlet, back in Denmark, meets Horatio in a Wild with grief, Laertes jumps there. Missing his chance, he goes to Gertrude’s room. castle with flowers, singing crazed songs. Laertes, graveyard. Claudius’ letter ordered the English to kill into the grave. So does Hamlet, Something is moving behind a curtain! Claudius? Hamlet back from France, wants to avenge his father’s Hamlet, but he escaped. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and they fight right there! Who drives his sword through the eavesdropper — Polonius! murder and his sister’s madness. Claudius is only were killed instead. Hamlet picks up the skull of the old loved Ophelia more? As they are To “protect” Hamlet, Claudius sends him to England with too glad to help him! But oh no! As the men make court jester. “Alas, poor ! I knew him, Horatio.” pulled apart, Hamlet swears he Rosencrantz, Guildenstern — and a letter. their plans, Ophelia drowns herself! They're interrupted by a funeral — for Ophelia! has no quarrel with Laertes.

17 Claudius asks Hamlet 18 19 20 to fence with Laertes. Horatio smells a rat, but Hamlet feels clear- headed at last. “If it be now, 'tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come. The readiness is all.” Instead of a safe fencing sword, Laertes The match begins — and Gertrude, watching, Gertrude dies! Laertes tells Hamlet Dying, Hamlet and Laertes forgive each other. will use a sharp, poisoned sips the poisoned wine! Laertes strikes they are both dying of poison! Hamlet prophecies that Norway will rule Denmark blade. Claudius also has Hamlet — the scratch is poisoned! As they Hamlet strikes the king and makes now. He begs Horatio to live on, mourn for him a poisoned a cup of wine — fence, they switch weapons. Now Hamlet him drink the wine, poisoning him! little and tell his story. “The rest is silence.” And of just for Hamlet. strikes Laertes. The scratch is poisoned! Claudius dies! course, Horatio will. “Goodnight, sweet prince.”

GAIL PENNINGTON • Post-Dispatch Television Critic > [email protected] THE FINALES 3 longtime dramas are signing off ‘Lost’ When • 6-8 p.m. Sunday (retrospective); 8-10:30 ‘Lost’ faces the most pressure to produce a satisfying fi nale. p.m. (final episode); 11:05 p.m.-midnight “Jimmy Three iconic TV dramas, three that it’s case closed for “Law & built stop growing. Kimmel” special. series fi nales. So many goodbyes, Order,” canceled just short of a So it’s hard to let go, and even Where • ABC (Channel 30) and all in the space of two days record-breaking 21st season. harder if a series finale lets us this week. TV shows never disappear com- down. When the cast of “Sein- ‘24’ “Lost,” which ends its six- pletely, of course, not in the days feld” reunited on “Curb Your En- When • 7-9 p.m. Monday MIDWESTERN SPIN season saga with a Sunday night of Netflix, DVD box sets and per- thusiasm,” all viewers could talk Where • Fox (Channel 2) Dance St. Louis director finale extravaganza on ABC, has petual cable reruns. But as view- about was how bad the “Seinfeld” Michael Uthoff hopes been getting most of the buzz. But ers, we’re bound to get attached fi nale had been — 12 years earlier. ‘Law & Order’ Spring to Dance festival “24,” exiting Fox after eight sea- to characters who come into our Some “Battlestar Galactica” fans When • 9-10 p.m. Monday sons, will go out with guns blaz- living rooms every week, and we Where • NBC (Channel 5) will encourage local ing. And now, fans have learned hate to see the relationships we’ve See PENNINGTON • Page D4 companies. PAGE D3

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