King's Player
Synopsis
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synopsis
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Let's get this straight...
this is not Hamlet's story
This is the Player's story
(go here for Hamlets story)
A ragged, nutrition, wisdom and talent challenged vagabond minstrel is touring the villages of medieval Denmark in search of the vagabond's grail, that holy of holies, a paying audience.
However times are tough in Denmark. Dark clouds are closing in, people have those tense, suspicious eyes of hard times. He moves onwards, inwards, towards the centre.. towards the castle Elsinore.
"...where at least, even if they aren't any more generous, there are more of the bastards.."
There, unknown to him amongst his audience in the market square is the young prince Hamlet.
Hamlet engages him to perform for his Uncle Claudius, the new King of Denmark. Attached to this greatest of gigs is only one condition... he must perform "The Murder of Gonzago". A vagabond's dream, to play for the King..."Very pale, looked like he'd seen a ghost... a bit of a mummy's boy"
"Just think of it.. an indoor bed, hot meals twice.. no three times a week... I get to wear the King's Colours, I get some respect.."
Only one catch... he doesn't know The Murder of Gonzago.
"...it's not a problem, I'm a professional, I can busk it.. I mean how hard can it be.. The Murder of Gonzago.. there's this bloke, Gonzago, he gets murdered..."
Realising that this approach may not guarantee him favour in court, he begins his search for the story. This search takes him to a pub where a highly recalcitrant barman is of limited, if amusing, assistance. From there back out onto the streets where he approaches a little old woman...
"...bit of a strange old girl really, bit of a wierd old syster, you know.. hair out the wrong bits, all that stuff.... but you never know with these old girls, sometimes they know a story or two"
with a large cauldron...
"Double double toil and trouble.. fire burn and cauldron bubble.. och come on bubble damn you bubble"
Thus Macbeth's witch enters the fray...
"I suppose you haven't got a powercrazed sexpot for a wife.. with a cleanliness fetish? Spot of insomnia? Och shitey bugger it I'm in the wrong play"
In an attempt to distract him she feeds him a potion. This leads him to a hallucinogenic encounter with the wandering ghost of the murdered ex King of Denmark.. Hamlet's father. Who surprisingly enough seems to know the story of the Murder in chilling detail. Thus he discovers the story and sets about converting it into theatrical form for his debut at the palace. He sweats, he strains, he prepares, then finally his hour is come.
Shaking with stage fright he stands before the assembled court...
"My Lords, Ladies, the player, here bowing to your clemency, begs your hearing patiently... The Murder of Gonzago...
...The Musical"
... some nights, you just shouldn't go on stage.