Part 2: Shakespeare's Help - Student Version

Cast (in order of appearance)

Stephen Morrissey as William Shakespeare
Michael Jefferyas Actor 1
Mick Cahill as Actor 2
Nic Velissaris as Homer
James Liotta as Virgil
Angelo Salamanca as Richard Burbage

The action takes place on the stage of the Globe theatre in London during a rehearsal for the first performance of Hamlet by The Lord Chamberlain's Men in 1600, with Richard Burbage in the title role.

[The signature theme melody is played in an Elizabethan style.]

[The sound of a busy theatre, back stage, during rehearsal…  sword fight practice and carpentry sounds are heard in the background.]

Shakespeare

Gentlefolk, good players, I implore you, a more enthusiasm when you speak your parts. 

[The actors mutter angrily.]

What? (PAUSE) Well, what?

Actor 1

'tis the story Bill.

Shakespeare

the story?

Actor 2

This Hamlet seems not to know if he’s hither or thither.

Actor 1

Why don’t you write us another love story.

Actor 2

Uh, a, a, few changes at least?

Shakespeare

I am not changing anything. It is a story of a man surrounded by murder and treachery. Who among you who thinks they could do better?

[Music underscores the appearance.]

Homer

I believe I could.

Shakespeare

Come closer, I would feign to recognise you.

Homer

[He advances a few steps.] I am a poet like yourself, William. 

Shakespeare

Oh?

Homer

I assume that you have heard the Illiad, the Odyssey?

Shakespeare

The great adventure stories of Homer?

Homer

Who stands before you now.

Actors

Oh, Ah..

Virgil

I will also put up my hand. 

[Music underscores his appearance.]

Shakespeare

Virgil? 

Virgil

Rome's greatest poet. At your service. [He advances a few steps.]

Actors

Ooh, Ah...

Shakespeare

Virgil? Homer? Have I to Hades descended?

Homer

Nay, good playwright, but your audience won't like this hero who does nothing.

Actors

[Mutter general agreement with Homer's point]

Virgil

Tell us, William, why this baffled prince of yours?

Shakespeare

Like your hero Aeneas, he is tortured by his humanity.

Virgil

But my Aeneas is tortured by his duty. His humanity is what spurs him on.

Shakespeare

With my Hamlet it is his human indecision keeps him prisoner. 

Actors

[Mutter general disagreement with Shakespeare's point.]

Shakespeare

Alright, alright! Pray you both, answer for us this, you who were the greatest story tellers of all time, what is it that makes a great story.

Actor 1

Yes. Prithee do. 

Actor 2

You know I prefer a classic over all this modern stuff.

Virgil

Struggle, "struggle" is the essence of Drama.  Conflict . . .  duty versus desire.

Homer

Man against man. Men driven to fight.

Virgil

The fight for right always makes the best story. It helps us endure the pain of our own living.

Homer

As long as it has Revenge!

Actor 2

Ahhh, yes.

Actor 1

Revenge, now that makes a good story.

Virgil

ah fatum, how you say in English,  "fate"?  Fate is part of all great stories.

Homer

Yes, Man against the Gods. We fight a pitiful fight against great odds.

Shakespeare

And what was destined to happen always does. 

Actor 1

Virgil, tell me are we not free to change our fate.

Virgil

Never.

Actor 1

Homer?

Homer

The gods will have their way.

Shakespeare

And this is what Hamlet struggles against.  He is caught.

Homer

It’s novel.  I’ll give you that.

Virgil

Is it in verse?  The public do love poetry spoken in dactylic hexameter.

Shakespeare

We English prefer the rhythm of Iambic pentameter.

Virgil

Well, what’s a heartbeat between friends?

[Music underscores the vanishing of Homer and Virgil. The backstage noises return.]

Burbage

Bill?  Bill?  The others have gone on break.  Are you alright?

Shakespeare

Burbage, I’ve been struck by a thunderbolt.  We’ll change the end.  Fetch me a pen, I think they all need to die.

Burbage

Huzzah William, a happy ending.

[The signature theme melody is repeated to end the scene.]

Credits

Conceived and Directed by John Paul Fischbach
Script by Robert Reid
Engineered and mixed by Carl Priestly at Itchyacoustic Design
Orchestrations by David James Nielsen

Recorded December 2007