• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

2017–2018 SEASON HAMLET by William Shakespeare Directed by Paul Mason Barnes CONTENTS 2 The 411 3 A/S/L, HTH 4 FYI 8 B4U 9 F2F 10 RBTL 11 IRL/BTW MAJOR SPONSORS At The Rep, we know HOW TO BE THE BEST AUDIENCE EVER! that life moves fast— TAKE YOUR SEAT okay, really fast. But An usher will seat your class as a group, and often we have we also know that a full house with no seats to spare, so be sure to stick with some things are your school until you have been shown your section in the worth slowing down theatre. for. We believe that live theatre is one of those pit stops worth making and are excited that you are going to stop SILENCE IS GOLDEN by for a show. To help you get the most bang for your buck, Before the performance begins, be sure to turn off your cell we have put together WU? @ THE REP—an IM guide that will phone and watch alarms. If you need to talk or text during give you everything you need to know to get at the top of your intermission, don’t forget to click off before the show theatergoing game—fast. You’ll find character descriptions resumes. (A/S/L), a plot summary (FYI), biographical information (F2F), BREAK TIME historical context (B4U), and other bits and pieces (HTH). Most This performance includes an intermission, at which time importantly, we’ll have some ideas about what this all means you can visit the restrooms in the lobby. Intermission is only IRL, anyway. 15 minutes though, so hurry back to your seat. SNACK TIME There is no food or drink permitted inside the theatre, so make sure you finish your snacks in the lobby before you enter the house. NOW HEAR THIS Just as you can see and hear the actors, they can see and hear you. Any talking, even whispering, can be heard by The Teacher’s those around you and those onstage, so please wait until Lounge the show is over to chat. NO PAPARAZZI PLEASE In an effort to make our The theatre is a camera-free zone. Flash photography educational materials accessible interrupts the action onstage and is prohibited by to students and easy for educators Actors’ Equity Association rules. You can sneak a peek at to incorporate into the classroom, our production photos on The Rep’s website at repstl.org. study guide is written in a student-oriented format. We hope that you will circulate this guide among your TAKE A BOW students in the weeks preceding your visit to The Rep, Let the actors know you respect their work by responding encouraging them to browse it before and after class and to the curtain call at the end of the performance. Show your as time allows, using it as a launch point for both pre- and appreciation for a job well done through applause. post-performance discussions.You may also want to visit our website, www.repstl.org, for additional information THANKS FOR BEING A GREAT AUDIENCE! including activity suggestions and behind-the-scenes information. Any materials, either from this guide or from our website may be reproduced for use in the classroom. As always, we appreciate your making live REP Education Department theatre a part of your classroom experience and welcome your Director of Education Marsha Coplon feedback and questions. Associate Director of Education Sarah Brandt Education Programs Associate Brian Coats CLAUDIUS, the newly crowned King of attention of Prince Hamlet, much to the Denmark following his brother’s untimely dismay of her father and brother. death, struggles to maintain peace in the Ophelia’s brother, LAERTES, is a scholar in kingdom while hiding the fact that he France who seeks revenge against those murdered the former king. who have wronged his family. He was once The son of the late king, PRINCE HAMLET Prince Hamlet’s childhood friend. OF DENMARK, seeks revenge for his THE GHOST OF KING HAMLET appears father’s murder. He feels betrayed by his to reveal the truth about the late king’s mother for her hasty remarriage to his death, causing Hamlet to enact his plot for uncle. revenge. QUEEN GERTRUDE, Hamlet’s mother, has HORATIO is a fellow scholar and friend to married her late-husband’s brother, much Hamlet who remains loyal throughout the to the disgust of her son. prince’s plot for revenge. The Lord Chamberlain, POLONIUS, is FORTINBRAS, the young Prince of concerned that Hamlet wishes to take Norway, has declared war on Denmark as away his daughter’s virtue. He is a well- revenge for his father’s death at the hand spoken man, but a weak strategist. of the late-King Hamlet many years before. OPHELIA, the innocent and virtuous daughter of Polonius, has caught the ADOPTION TRIED: A lasting friendship HARBINGERS: Persons or things that APOPLEX’D: Paralyzed come before to announce or give an indication of what follows BODKIN: A dagger JOWLS: Bumps BUZZERS: Gossipers MOUNTEBANK: Quack doctor COZENAGE: Treachery ScULLION: A servant doing the rough, DOWN GYVED: Fallen about his ankles dirty work in a kitchen FAIN: Wish TO THE MANNER BORN: Destined or FISHMONGER: A dealer in fish, or accustomed to it since birth someone who sells women TRUEPENNY: Honest fellow GIB: A male cat WORMWOOD: Bitterness 6. Ophelia 7. Gertrude 8. Hamnet 9. France 10. Globe 10. France 9. Hamnet 8. Gertrude 7. Ophelia 6. Yorick 5. Elsinore 4. Aristotle 3. Poison 2. England 1. answers: Crossword 3 HAMLET HAMLET SPOILER ALERT! This synopsis contains spoilers HAMLET about the story of the show. If you wish to be completely surprised by what you see on stage, BenedictHAMLET Cumberbatch in the London Barbican’s 2015 production of Hamlet. Photo Courtesy of BBC News. you may want to wait until after the play to As the play begins, the nation of Denmark recent marriage, as he is still mourning his read this article. finds itself in a state of unrest. King Hamlet father. Both Gertrude and Claudius plead with has died suddenly, and his brother, Claudius, Hamlet to be happy, but when left alone, has ascended to the throne. There is fear of an Hamlet mourns the loss of his father and speaks invasion from Norway, led by the young Prince unkindly about his mother, calling into question Fortinbras, who is seeking revenge for his her love for the late king. Horatio approaches father’s death at the hand of the late King Hamlet to explain what he has seen on the Hamlet many years ago. In order to maintain as battlements and Hamlet agrees to accompany much order as possible in Denmark, Claudius him that night in order to learn the truth about has quickly wed his brother’s wife, Queen this illusion. Gertrude, much to the chagrin of her son, Prince Hamlet. Elsewhere in the kingdom, Laertes and Ophelia, the children of the king’s advisor While on guard duty, soldiers Marcellus and Polonius, are saying goodbye to one another, Barnardo explain to Horatio, a scholar and as Laertes has been granted permission to friend of Prince Hamlet, that they have seen a return to France. Laertes warns his sister not to strange sight the previous two nights: the get too close to Hamlet, who has expressed ghost of the late King Hamlet. He does not interest in her, as he will do nothing more than believe them until the Ghost appears on the take her virtue and leave her with nothing. battlements. Horatio questions the apparition, Polonius enters and offers wise advice to but it refuses to speak and leaves as the rooster Laertes, who then departs. Polonius questions crows. Horatio decides that they will tell Prince Ophelia and, upon learning of Hamlet’s Hamlet what they have seen. affections, gives her the same warning as Laertes. She agrees to refuse Hamlet’s King Claudius gathers the court at Elsinore and affections. thanks them for supporting the sudden marriage for him and Queen Gertrude in such That night, Hamlet, Horatio and Marcellus wait difficult times. He then addresses Prince for the ghost on the battlements. When it Hamlet, who is the only one not celebrating the appears, it wishes to speak with Hamlet alone. 4 SPOILER Though Horatio and Marcellus advise against it, When Hamlet approaches, Gertrude and ALERT! Hamlet agrees to speak with the ghost. The Claudius leave. Polonius and Hamlet have a ghost explains that he was murdered by strange conversation, during which Hamlet This synopsis Claudius while sleeping in the garden, and seems not to know Polonius. Polonius leaves contains spoilers Hamlet must now take revenge. When Horatio and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern arrive. After about the story of and Marcellus arrive, Hamlet tells them that he questioning them, Hamlet learns that they were the show. If you wish plans to act crazy in order to find out more sent by Claudius and Gertrude. He also learns to be completely surprised by what information about the ghost’s claim. Horatio that there is a theatre troupe coming to the you see on stage, and Marcellus are sworn to secrecy about castle. When they arrive, Hamlet asks them to you may want to wait seeing the ghost and Hamlet’s plan. demonstrate their talents and requests that until after the play to they perform before the court the following Polonius sends his man, Reynaldo, to Paris to read this article. night. Hamlet will use the play to judge his spy on Laertes. Ophelia enters, claiming that uncle’s guilt, as the plot involves a murder of a Hamlet had come to her looking crazed and man by his brother.

Load more

  12

Copy Link