This story takes place at Ophelia's sixteenth birthday party thrown by her father, Polonius in an extravagant castle in Denmark.
Polonius: My dear Ophelia, for your sixteenth birthday I've had the castle decorated in your honor and invited all of your closest friends for a party I want you to remember for the rest of your life. I have some important duties to attend to so I'll be leaving now. You have a great time.
Ophelia observes the beautifully decorated hall for her party and feels greatful as all of her closest friends pour in through the door bearing gifts. She greets her friends as they show up. She looks through the crowd of her guests and spots Hamlet with his friends Horatio, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern. She blushes when she sees him and her girl friends (other noblewomen in Denmark)notice. They laugh at Ophelia and snicker about how she is in love with Hamlet.
Ophelia's friends: Ophelia and Hamlet sittin' in a tree, k.i.s.s.i.n.g..
The party goers mingle as ROphelia admires Hamlet from afar. She notices he looks slightly disturbed. Maybe annoyed?
Horatio aside to Hamlet: Hamlet you're at a party you should be having a good time.
Hamlet: I can't be bothered with these childish gatherings. I have alot of preparation for when I become king and this party is just a waste of my time.
Party goer: I have an idea. Lets play spin the bottle!
The party goer obtains a wine bottle and all of the guests gather around in a circle.
Hamlet catches Ophelia's eye as she looks at him with longing. "I should be going now" thought Hamlet. As he walks toward the door Rosencrantz and Guildenstern call him over.
Rosencrantz: Come play spin the bottle, Hamlet.
Guildenstern: Don't be a party pooper.
"To play or not to play. That is the question," thought Hamlet. He was clearly superior to these foolish children and their games, but Hamlet has admired Ophelia for years and it seemed as though she wanted him to stay. Hamlet joined the other guests in the circle.
Party goer: Here we go!
The party goer spins the bottle and the two ends stop in between Ophelia and Hamlet. The two shudder and meet eyes as the guests chuckle and snicker.
Horatio: Now you have to kiss the birthday girl, Hamlet.
The two lean in to kiss as everyone watches. They slowly get closer and closer when Laertes bursts through the door.
Laertes: Where's the birthday girl!? Hey little sis! Birthday punches!
Ophelia sighs as the guests leave the circle. She looks at Hamlet and the two exchange a smile.
Horatio to Hamlet: Are you having a good time yet?
Hamlet: (thinking about Ophelia) I'm glad I came after all.
4 comments:
Overall I liked the way you integrated the I suppose "modern" game into the more archaic setting. (I guess we don't know what kinds of kissing games people of the past played, although I'm sure they played something). "To play or not to play, that is the question" was GOLDEN. Hamlet seems stuck up and annoying, which I didn't like, but I'm pretty sure that's how he's written in the play... I'm not too fond of Hamlet in general lol. I think your version fits well with the play, when Ophelia is trying to defend herself to her father and says that Hamlet told her he loves her. In a way it seemed a little childish/naive to me, and Ophelia in your story is like that too with her crush on Hamlet.
This story was really good and it showed the childish behavior of Ophelia and the stuck up behavior of Hamlet. The story fits in really well with the play even though there are some qualities that are more modern. Also, I was dying when I read "to play or not to play". That was hilarious. Great story.
Aw Rose, I really liked how you threw in spin the bottle. It was a nice reminder that they aren't very grown yet and are still young and foolish. I completely did not expect Laertes to come busting in but that fits his character so well - especially after reading the "preserving your flower" talk haha. Rosencrantz and Guildnstern were spot on too, they didn't really care if Hamlet wanted to play, they just wanted to have fun despite his wishes.
Rose, I really like this modernization. I think you captured the characters of Hamlet and Ophelia quite well. She would be more of an idealist - maybe a slightly silly girl who is always overshadowed or controlled by men in her life. I also think that Hamlet would be very conceited prior to his father dying. He was the prince of Hamlet who had the world at his fingertips. I think his father's death is quite sobering for him.
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