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PLAYING
THE PALACE Full Illustrated Synopsis
Prologue
On an open road somewhere between Jutland and the Baltic Sea, we meet our
traveling players, Soren, their leader, Valentina Ponti, a diva-actress,
Henning, a handsome ladies man, and Kaj, a character actor/inventor.
 They
are stranded on the road, having fled their last engagement due to unpaid
bills. Their cart has broken down, and they are so poor they have had to eat
their horse. Each blames the other for their plight (“Another Narrow
Escape”).
While the members of the troupe bicker, Soren realizes that
they are not far from the castle Elsinore, where Soren’s friend lives, a
Prince by the name of… of… (Well, he can’t quite remember his name) but whom
he knows will treat them well, perhaps even giving them a theatre commission
(“Next Season”). While the others members of the troupe are not nearly as
optimistic as Soren, they repair their broken wagon and off they go (“On The
Road”).
Act One
 “At The Inn” on the road to Elsinore, we find a variety of folk: scullery
workers, peddlers, soldiers, a retired Judge and assorted others. The
soldiers are drunk, having been frightened by the appearance of the ghost at
their posts at Elsinore, claiming to be the murdered king. The players
arrive during a terrible storm and Soren begins to flirt with the woman who
owns the inn, Fru Gerdes.
 She is hesitant to rent rooms to the
actors, especially after Ponti issues a list of demands (“Ponti’s Terms”).
Soren, through some fast-talking, is able to make the deal (“The
Players”).
 The prince (Hamlet) arrives at the inn and in a variation on the
scene in Shakespeare entreats the players to come “play the palace. He
offers them a small sack of gold, which amazes even the jaded Ponti. Close
on his heels arrives the King’s minister, Polonius, has no use for such
frivolities as poetry, art and theatre.
 Hamlet leads Polonius away,
promising to return secretly to help revise the script the players will
present the next day. The players are left holding the sack of gold and
marveling over their good fortune. Perhaps Soren was right after all
(“Playing the Palace”)!
 Later, Hamlet returns with his revised script. While Soren reviews the
script, the retired Judge Lander, who had seen Ponti perform years before,
begins a conversation with her that ultimately leads to romance (“Ages
Ago”).
 Soren, concerned that Ponti has become a bit too casual in her
acting approach demands a rehearsal with her (“The Perfect Pair”).
He
calls Henning and Kaj in to rehearse and begins to assign the roles each
player will perform.
 They discover that Hamlet’s script changes make it
impossible for only four players to perform the piece, even with substantial
“doubling.”
 In seeking out another player, the troupe engages the help of
Jens, a teenage boy who works at the inn. Although reluctant, he is
given the small role of the murderer (“Those That Play The Clowns”).
Fru Gerdes, Helge (the scullery maid) and Eva (the chamber maid) comment on
how the rehearsals are going – not very well (“Playing The Palace –
reprise”).
 Much to Soren’s dismay, Ponti demands a break and goes off for a
walk with Judge Lander. The other players take a break as Soren rushes off
after her. Henning, his libido always on the lookout for a new conquest,
finds a willing lass in Helge, who is also up for a bit of afternoon fun
(“Finding You”).
The end of the first act finds our players outside, admiring their wagon
newly decorated by an endowment from the prince.
 Much to the consternation
of Hamlet's minister, Polonius, they head off for their performance in
bright spirits, feeling this is the beginning of a new future for their
troupe: the Elsinore Players (“Sky: Blue”).
Act Two
 Although Hamlet had instructed them to have fine accommodations, Polonius'
will has reigned and the players are putting on their makeup in a small,
dank room near the dungeons. Jens is not very adept at the basic arts, but
Kaj offers to teach him (“I Want To Be An Actor”). Soren enters,
followed by Polonius, who very explicitly tells Soren what he thinks of
actors. Rabble-rousers. Troublemakers. Always offering hopes and dreams to
people who can’t afford such extravagant thoughts. Soren comments that
Polonius should have been an actor himself, and Polonius confides that while
in University studies he did portray Julius Caesar. Just as Soren is about
to get him to orate,
 Henning bursts into the room singing of his latest
conquest (“Finding You – reprise”). Soren tries to get him to stop,
but not before Henning shouts her name in the most vulgar way possible:
“Oh-Feel-Ya”! Of course, at the mention of his daughter’s name, Polonius is
furious and vows to make sure the players are sent on their way by morning.
Soren is furious at Henning, and runs after Polonius.
 Ponti enters with Judge Lander and sends the other players into the corridor
while she does her make up and changes her costume. Judge Lander proposes
marriage and she tentatively accepts, knowing she must break the news to
Soren.
 Soren enters with Hamlet, who he presents a sword engraved
with him name –“a gift from the Duke of Spain who was so taken with my
portrayal of Don Juan that the had it engraved and presented to me as a
token of his admiration.”
 While Hamlet is reluctant to accept such a
fine gift, he finally relents, thanking Soren profusely. Soren, annoyed at
the attentions Ponti is receiving from Judge Lander throws the Judge out of
the room. Ponti is furious and goes to find him. Kaj, who has been in
the corridor overhearing everything tells Soren that the Judge has proposed
to Ponti. Kaj is worried that this will be the end of their troupe. Soren is
shaken, but tells Kaj not to worry (“What A Fool!”).
  Of course, the performance is disastrous and ends in a shambles. Jens
is convinced it is his fault, but Ponti feels the time has come to call it
quits (“The Juggler”). Back at the inn, the Judge and Helge tell Fru
Gerdes and Eva all about the performance (“The Murder Of Gonzago”).
 The Players arrive, arguing about what went wrong. Soren blames them all,
but most of all blames Jens. Ponti, who has had enough of life on the road,
decides she will retire and settle down with Judge Lander. Soren, who cannot
bear to lose her, but also cannot confess his love for her is distraught
(“On My Own”).
 The next morning finds Soren sleeping with his head on a table when soldiers
come to arrest him for the murder of Polonius. It seems a sword was found
near the body bearing Soren's name on it - the sword he had earlier given to
Hamlet. The rustics of the inn and the players band together to fight off
the soldiers (“The Battle”). During the fight, Soren accidentally
kills one of the soldiers. Just as another soldier is about to run him
through, the ghost of the king appears at the top of the stairs, scaring the
remaining soldiers away. The ghost is revealed to be Jens, who has saved the
day. Soren confesses his love for Ponti and she realizes she doesn't want to
leave him. She bids a farewell to Judge Lander as the troupe prepares to
make another escape, knowing the soldiers will be back (“At The Inn –
reprise”). Jens wants to join them, but Soren feels it will be too dangerous
and that the boy's place is at the inn. Shortly after their leave, a
messenger arrives from the Palace with a note and a box for the players.
Jens takes them and runs off after the players.
 Epilogue
Back on the road, the wagon is broken again. Jens runs up and the players
eagerly open the letter, which Ponti reads aloud:
My dear friend,
You will never know the course of events you have
transformed through your art. I truly regret that things did not turn out as you
had planned, but rest assured, your performance has affected many lives this
day. It is best that your travels take you away from Elsinore.
May heaven guide you as you travel on, the Strolling Players, evermore.
With gratitude,
Hamlet,
Prince of Denmark.
Postscript: Please accept this gold for your trouble.
  The box contains more gold than they have ever seen. As they set off
again, Jens stands to the side, sadly watching them go. Before they have
rounded the bend, Soren calls to him to join them and Jens takes his place
as a member of the troupe. ("Finale”). |
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