Much Ado About Something
Alas, poor Shakespeare here lies done to death
By hands unknown his life away was borne
His stopped heart echoes his silent breath
His characters alone remain to mourn
Though the artist is slain, his works extend
Bright heroes whose lives his art attested
Now gather they to learn from Will's own pen
In whose name title to the plays vested
Lover, fighter, lady and thane, rare sprite
Each hope to receive the playwright's gift
Each seek to diminish the other's right
Or learn which other set Will's life adrift
Come, open-hearted and open-handed
Depart enriched, or a killer branded
Author
Alan Schwartz, run by Malcolm Harbrow
Characters
There are 16 characters.
Theseus, Duke of Athens (M) A Midsummer Night's Dream
Hippolyta, Duchess of Athens, Queen of the Amazons (F) A Midsummer Night's Dream
Macbeth, Thane of Glami (M) Macbeth
Lady Macbeth of Glamis (F) Macbeth
Tybalt Capulet, a swordsman of Verona (M) Romeo and Juliet
Romeo Montague, a young gentleman of Verona (M) Romeo and Juliet
Juliet Capulet, a young gentlewoman of Verona (F) Romeo and Juliet
Lysander, a young gentleman of Athens (M) A Midsummer Night's Dream
Demetrius, a young gentleman of Athens (M) A Midsummer Night's Dream
Helena, a young gentlewoman of Athens (F) A Midsummer Night's Dream
Hermia, a young gentlewoman of Athens (F) A Midsummer Night's Dream
Rosaline, a young woman of Verona (F) Romeo and Juliet
Friar Laurence, a friar of Verona (M) Romeo and Juliet
Serafina, a nurse (F) Romeo and Juliet
Verula, an old woman (F) Macbeth
Plus, an Extra
The characters have determinate genders, but this being Shakespeare, crossdressing is fine.
Costume
Default to renaissance, but can be from any interpretation from any of the plays noted. If you want to be SciFi Romeo, or Nazi MacBeth, then that's fine.
GM Contact
Malcolm: mharbrow@gmail.com
Documents
People are encouraged to read the summaries of the plays at the Shakespere Resource Center:
Midsummer Night's Dream: http://www.bardweb.net/plays/dream.html
Macbeth: http://www.bardweb.net/plays/macbeth.html
Romeo & Juliet: http://www.bardweb.net/plays/romeo.html
The game includes a wake. Players are encouraged to bring something to allow their characters to toast the memory of their Creator, William Shakespeare.
Background
Hear ye, hear ye! By order of Theseus, Duke of Athens, ye are hereby summoned to the reading of ye Last Wille of William Shakespeare, poet and playwright, recently discovered slain by unknown causes. Shakespeare's Legacy includes the title to his complete works, which some believe may one day have value.
A memorial service shall be held, followed by a wake, and then a reading shall commence.
Claimants receiving this summons are below listed in order of rank. Any who fail to appear at ye reading shall forfeit all claim to Shakespeare's works henceforth.
Note well that all weapons are forbidden at the reading of the wille, and any who brings such will be immediately disinherited.
