Rosencrantz & Guildenstern -- presented by NEGASS August 15, 2020

William Schwenk Gilbert wrote many straight plays of various lengths. ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’ was originally published in the periodical "Fun" in 1874. It was not performed on stage until 1891 when it was presented as part of a charity benefit. Ben Morse KING CLAUDIUS, of Denmark Martha Birnbaum QUEEN GERTRUDE, of Denmark Thomas Dawkins HAMLET, Queen Gertrude’s Son – betrothed to OPHELIA Natan Zamansky ROSENCRANTZ, a Courtier, in love with OPHELIA James Cooper GUILDENSTERN, a Courtier Marion Leeds Carroll FIRST PLAYER, an Actor Juliet Cunningham SECOND PLAYER, an Actress Kitty Drexel OPHELIA ARGUMENT KING CLAUDIUS, when a young man, wrote a five-act tragedy which was damned, and all reference to it forbidden under penalty of death. The KING has a son – HAMLET – whose tendency to soliloquy has so alarmed his mother, QUEEN GERTRUDE, that she has sent for ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN, to devise some Court revels for his entertainment. ROSENCRANTZ is a former lover of OPHELIA (to whom HAMLET is betrothed), and they lay their heads together to devise a plan by which HAMLET might be put out of the way. Some Court theatricals are in preparation. OPHELIA and ROSENCRANTZ persuade HAMLET to play his father’s tragedy before the KING and Court. HAMLET, who is unaware of the proscription, does so, and he is banished, and ROSENCRANTZ happily united to OPHELIA.