If I’ve scheduled this right, this should be going live right about the time people are arriving for Game Night. With the help of Open AI, I wrote a short play we can perform about deciding what to order out for dinner. We’ll see if I have the guts to actually insist people perform it, but… who knows…
Game Night for Hamlet
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
CLAUDIUS, the King of Denmark GERTRUDE, the Queen of Denmark HAMLET, son to Gertrude, and Prince of Denmark OPHELIA, daughter of a courtier A DELIVERY PERSON
SETTING
A modest kitchen in a suburban home. There is a table with a gaming mat spread on it in the center of the room.
TIME
Early evening in mid summer, before sundown.
(Curtain opens to Claudius, Hamlet and Ophelia standing around a table. There is a board game on the table. There are four sturdy chairs placed around the table. GERTRUDE walks onstage, greeting everyone. Everyone is speaking in iambic pentameter as in a Shakespeare play.)
GERTRUDE:
We are all gathered here tonight To play a game for our delight Before we take our comfy seat We must decide what we shall eat!
(CLAUDIUS, HAMLET, and OPHELIA think about this for a moment. Finally, CLAUDIUS speaks.)
CLAUDIUS:
I think we should have some wine and cheese.
HAMLET:
No, no, let’s have some cake – please!
OPHELIA:
I like them all, they sound quite nice, But I would also like some spice.
GERTRUDE:
So wine and cheese and cake and spice We’ve had it once, shall it be twice?
CLAUDIUS:
Why not? I think that sounds quite good! It matters not, if it be food!
OPHELIA:
Perhaps I’ll have some cheese and wine, But I don’t think I’ll have the cake.
HAMLET:
Suit yourself, but I think you’re missing out!
(Everyone takes their seat and begins to talk about the events of the day. After a few moments, CLAUDIUS speaks up.)
CLAUDIUS:
The night grows short, our time is tight So, what game shall we play tonight?
OPHELIA:
To match the clouds that outside glower, May I suggest we play Dark Tower?
(Everyone agrees and they begin to set up the game.)
GERTRUDE:
Remind me please, was it recorded Chinese or Indian, that we ordered?
CLAUDIUS:
Um, yes, my dear, it was Chinese.
GERTRUDE:
I see, oh yes, now let me please Write down the meals that you desire And call them in before we tire
CLAUDIUS:
That would be great, thank you my queen! I’ve such a hunger you have not seen.
(GERTRUDE orders the food, and eventually there is a knock at the door.)
(Enter delivery person.)
DELIVERY PERSON:
I have your food, as you requested. I’ll take my leave once I have rested.
GERTRUDE:
We thank you, come and set it down. we bid you peace and great renown.
(The DELIVERY PERSON does so, and then leaves. Everyone begins to eat. After a few moments, CLAUDIUS speaks up again.)
CLAUDIUS:
Are we playing tonight, or what?