Shakespeare Wills Twins

From the publisher - Mahobe Resources (NZ) Ltd We hope you enjoy the first scene of Patrick Spillane’s play “Will’s Twins”. The complete book can be purchased from our website www.mahobe.co.nz. WILL'S TWINS from NZ’s premier school playwright Patrick Spillane. In this lively romp, Will Shakespeare is broke and returns from London to the Stratford family home and a frosty reception from his wife Anne Hathaway. He hopes to stage a sponsored performance of “A Midsummer Night's Dream”. He is short of actors and has to talk his reluctant son Hamnet (thirteen for the purposes of this fictional piece) into playing a female role. Hamnet is more into wrestling and hunting than the strange world of boy actors and is most unwilling to play a female on stage. His twin sister Judith, his mate Tom and Tom's conveniently-named sister Hermia combine with Meg the cheeky housekeeper to help out and create subsequent confusion. The text is intended for the junior English classroom and includes differentiated close-reading, language and writing activities. It is great for an accessible introduction to the Shakespearian world and as part of thematic teaching on fantasy, dream, friendship, imaginary worlds, growing up and family.

WILL’S TWINS A play by

Patrick Spillane Dramaturg Duncan Allan

Based around a rehearsal of William Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

Dedicated to English and Drama Teachers everywhere

Will’s Twins A play by Patrick Spillane First published in New Zealand in 2009 Mahobe Resources (NZ) Ltd. P.O. Box 109-760 Newmarket, Auckland 1149 New Zealand www.mahobe.co.nz © Copyright 2009, Mahobe Resources (NZ) Ltd. © Copyright 2009, Patrick Spillane. The moral rights of the author have been asserted. ISBN 9781877489006 All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, including photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright holders. Performing rights to this play are gained through purchasing a class set of the texts. Mahobe Resources (NZ) Ltd would also appreciate a courtesy phone call, email or letter if you are performing the play. Acknowledgements The author wishes to thank Dr Brian Bennison, Graeme Holden and the staff of Mahobe Resources (NZ) Ltd for their assistance in producing this book. Special thanks also to two very talented people, Duncan Allan for all his time and work as Dramaturg and to William Furneaux for his outstanding art work and cover. Pages 8 and 9 of this book contain an extract taken from Bill Bryson's "Shakespeare, The World as a Stage", P70-71, first published 2008. This extract is reprinted with the permission of Harper Collins Publishers Ltd. © Bill Bryson, 2008. Print Production: Imago Productions (FE) Pte Ltd, Singapore About the Author Patrick Spillane is New Zealand’s premier school playwright with a unique proven teenage theatre voice. Previous best selling plays include “Animal Fallout”, “Grace” and “Rosie”. He can be contacted through Mahobe Resources (NZ) Ltd.

CONTENTS Possible Set Design

4

Introductory Activities Before Reading the Play Oral Activity - Lateral Lines Preliminary Vocabulary How to Approach the Text About Shakespeare Vocabulary in Context Quick Fire Questions More Challenging Questions

5 7 9 10 11 13 14 14

Will’s Twins - The Play

15

Post Play Activities Reading Activities Hot Seating / Role play Find a Feature Investigating the Text Who Says? Storyboard Language Activities Shakespeare’s Poetry Spelling Bee Punctuation Scrabble Tiles Rude Letters Your Writing Research Responding to the Play Character Analysis The Ideas / Themes of the Play William Shakespeare - Time Line Shakespeare’s Plays The Answers

91 92 92 93 94 94 95 96 98 98 99 100 100 101 102 103 104 107 108 109

Introductory Activities

WILL'S TWINS - The Play A play by Patrick Spillane based around a rehearsal of Will Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

Author’s note Shakespeare's twins were born in 1585. Hamnet died in 1596, aged eleven, while Judith lived into old age. For the fictional world of this play the twins are aged thirteen. It was the custom in Elizabethan England for boy actors to play female roles (unlike countries such as Italy and France). Female involvement in the theatre was considered inappropriate and audiences accepted this, involving themselves in the story more than the gender of the actors. These actors were apprenticed and had extensive training. Dogs were popular on stage and animal imagery and references abound in Shakespeare's work.

Main Cast WILL SHAKESPEARE - playwright, early thirties ANNE HATHAWAY - his wife, eight years older HAMNET - their son, 13, a twin JUDITH - their daughter, 13, a twin (also Helena) MEG - the housekeeper

BILLY - 16, a butcher's apprentice (also Lysander) HERMIA - Billy's sister, 14 (also Hermia in the rehearsal)

Will’s Twins

TOM - 16, Hamnet's friend and aspiring actor (also Demetrius)

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Introductory Activities

“ A Midsummer Night's Dream" Rehearsal cast: Theseus - Duke of Athens Hippolyta- Queen of the Amazons, engaged to Theseus Egeus - A nobleman, Hermia's father Oberon - King of the Fairies Titania - Queen of the Fairies Puck - Oberon's jester, sprite Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Mustardseed - fairies Peter Quince - A carpenter Nick Bottom - A weaver (Pyramus) Francis Flute - A bellows-mender (Thisbe) Tom Snout - A tinker (Wall) Snug - A joiner (Lion and Moonshine)

Production Notes 1.

At least five or six male actors are required to play Will, Hamnet, Tom, Billy, Oberon and Bottom. As always, with Shakespeare, genders can be mixed up and actors can double up.

2.

The most busy and demanding of the twenty-two roles are, in roughly descending order: Judith, Will, Hamnet, Meg, Tom, Billy, Hermia, Ann, Puck, Bottom, Flute, Oberon, Titania, Theseus, Egeus, Quince, Snout, Hippolyta, Snug, Mustardseed, Peaseblossom, Cobweb. (Judith is on throughout most of the play. Meg often "breaks" the fourth wall and communicates with the audience.)

3.

The Play runs for ninety minutes.

Will’s Twins

References: Christopher Marlowe - also a young playwright. Groundlings - audience members who paid a penny and stood in the open courtyard or pit of the theatres. Nashe and Greene - fierce critics of Shakespeare. Southhampton and Essex - Shakespeare's backers or patrons. New Place - Shakespeare’s grand Stratford house.

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WILL'S TWINS SCENE ONE

WILL

(offstage shouting) Hamnet, Judith! Where are you my twin doves, my little bookends? (Enters with flowers. Judith runs to meet him, Anne stands and stares ahead.)

ANNE

Were you announced, Will? We did not know of your arrival.

WILL

I am a poet, Anne, Will Shakespeare, the playwright. I announce myself. (with mock bow) Mr William Shakespeare, dramatist, visitor from London. (Uses mock female voice and curtseys, holding out flowers.) Oh you are most welcome m'lord. Do enjoy our humble dwelling.

ANNE

Very humble indeed and in my household you are a failed and feckless husband and will abide by that household's ways.

WILL

Failed, feckless, reckless, perhaps. You should write dear wife.

ANNE

You will respect our home or leave.

WILL

(Enraged, throws flowers down. Judith exits, startled.) Oh I see, you onion-eyed flap dragon. Pay the bills and take the chills.

ANNE

You chose to live in London you milk-livered hedge pig!

WILL

Where else would a writer live? I need the street, Anne. Life and noise and energy. Half the people are under twenty. There are merchants and ballad singers, beggars, and thieves. Writers like

Will’s Twins

(Evening in the Stratford-on-Avon home of the Shakespeare Family. Anne sits centre, braiding/brushing Judith's hair. Music.)

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Christopher Marlowe. He's mad and bad ….and stabbed….just last week. ANNE

And that's what you want? With youngsters to feed?

WILL

Of course not. I want stories, tales, the smell of life, so where else would I be?

ANNE

Here, Will, with us, not amongst the ale houses and… whores.

WILL

Chores, Anne, the daily chore of writing. I rehearse in the mornings, perform in the afternoons and write in the evenings. Yes, in the taverns where there is warmth and lamps to write by! You gave me your blessing.

ANNE

In the hope that your writing would be blessed, the family fortune restored and you avoid arrest for deserting us. (silence) And your writing is awful - Titus Andronicus is such a violent play.

WILL

But everyone's heard of it.

ANNE

Because it's brutal - hands and tongues lopped off! A queen who eats her sons' flesh in a pie. Imagine! And you with twins.

WILL

The groundlings seem to like it.

ANNE

And Venus and Adonis?

WILL

They all like that!

ANNE

Because it's so rude! A poem that makes me blush with shame. And it doesn't make us a penny. Your family needs five pence a day and you waste your time in London.

WILL

(subdued) So, I write cheese in London and you make it in Stratford. Is that what you're saying? We're a pair?

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ANNE

Robert Green called you a waspish little worm, an upstart crow!

WILL

Envy. Just green-eyed jealousy. He and Thomas Nashe are envious. My work is much sought after. Theatre owners are knocking on my door.

ANNE

So you say, so you say…..Oh, when will we ever be able to buy our New Place?

WILL

It's the largest house in town! Vaulting ambition, Anne.

ANNE

Or be awarded a coat of arms? How can that ever happen when you waste your time on such dark subjects and dark ladies (Will is surprised.) …. I hear things, Will. It's a small town and the nights are long…

WILL

I know, I know..

ANNE

…and I've thought of dressing in men's garments and visiting you in London..

WILL

(anxious) No need for that..

ANNE

..only to find you in the arms of another..

WILL

Now, now.. about this coat of arms… and the house. It can be done, That's why I'm here. My love play, Romeo and Juliet. It's playing to packed houses. Granted, I'm a little short of money..a temporary shortfall..

ANNE

Do you not listen! William, William, lend me your ears. We have no money! Susannah, our precious daughter, is already a servant girl elsewhere.

WILL

And I regret that! But I've got this new play, not dark at all, full of love and laughter and mischief. A rich idea..

ANNE

Writers are full of rich ideas but are rarely rich! How hard has it been all these years? Without

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Meg I would never have got by. The twins born in winter. Hamnet so small I thought he would drown in the baptismal font at Holy Trinity. I have few rights, Will, but the twins have a right to some comfort. To their father. WILL

And that's why I'm here. Southampton and Essex will reward me richly for a season of this play …here in Stratford. With two plays running our purse will be full.

ANNE

And the play, is it full of nonsense?

WILL

Yes, yes…full of nonsense, magic and mischief. The groundlings will love it.

ANNE

They pay little enough.

WILL

..and so will Southampton and his mates…love it, that is. A romantic comedy. They're all the go. It'll be a success, you'll see. It's called A Midsummer Night's Dream.

ANNE

Midsummer's madness more like it.

WILL

Exactly! It's a dream, a place of wonder.

ANNE

And the catch is?

WILL

No catch… just a wee hitch. Our company is stretched. We're a couple of players short..

ANNE

And the hitch?

WILL

Well…the hitch is…we haven't got a bitch. We have hounds a plenty but no boy to play one of the female lovers. Helena. It's a very funny part.

ANNE

Well good luck with your dog fight.

WILL

I've had no luck. Stratford's a country town.

ANNE

So there's a hitch and it's with a bitch. Why must you writers always be so crude?

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WILL

It's what we do. People don't pay to see drudgery… they pay for poetry.. "Fairy king, attend and mark: I do hear the morning lark.' See, pretty stuff! It's got to happen and I have a solution… A domestic solution.

ANNE

Judith can't do it! The queen says that it is rude and lewd for women to perform in public. I agree.

WILL

But Hamnet can.

ANNE

Can't, Will! Won't! I won't have him part of your world.

WILL

He will do it for my sake and our family's sake!

ANNE

Must you always posture and trumpet! (Exits.)

WILL

Strumpet! That's what actors do! (He sinks to a chair as twins enter.) It pays the bills.

JUDITH

Strumpet? What's a strumpet?

HAMNET

How should I know. I'm thirteen..Perhaps a trumpet with a bosom. (Comes uncertainly to his father.) How are you father?

WILL

Hamnet! Sorry about all the bellowing. All the world's a stage but I can't write my own lines here in my own home.

JUDITH

Mother misses you, father.

WILL

She can join me in London.

JUDITH

But she says your writing may yet save us.

WILL

(surprised) Does she now?

HAMNET

And she says you're a…a..

WILL

(laughing) A what?

TWINS

(together) A thief, a poacher!

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HAMNET

A poacher. You poached game when you were young and now she says that you steal your plots.

WILL

Well she stole my life… So which am I, father or poacher?

JUDITH (together) HAMNET

Father

WILL

(laughing and wrapping arms around them) Come here, master and mistress echo. (pause) What did you think of London when you visited?

JUDITH

We could smell it twenty five miles away and the people were ugly and scary..

HAMNET

..and there were thieves and noise aplenty..

JUDITH

Such a hiss..

Poacher

HAMNET (miming) WILL

And apart from that?

JUDITH

We liked it.

WILL

And did you like my love play? Romeo and Juliet. What did you think of it?

JUDITH (together) HAMNET

Beautiful!

WILL

So what didn't you like, master critic?

HAMNET

I liked Tybalt, he was rough and tough but Romeo was whey-faced and miserable. Not like a proper man.

WILL

He was a boy, a boy in love!

HAMNET

And I thought he was a pathetic cooing dove.

And piss! They piss in the Thames, father!

Awful!

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JUDITH

Well I liked him, father. So handsome..

HAMNET

Smooth, like a woman..

JUDITH

..with a smile..

HAMNET

..like a gash..

JUDITH

..tumbling locks..

HAMNET

like a corkscrew..

JUDITH

..and eyes like dark wells..

HAMNET

(Picks up flowers.) And a pong to match..

JUDITH

..and the curve of his leg..

HAMNET

..he was an egg! (high voice) "Parting is such sweet sorrow!"

JUDITH

But, Hamnet, he made me swoon!

HAMNET

Judith he had a head like an empty room! (Grabs flowers and goes down on his knees to Judith, mocking voice.) Oh, that I could be a petal upon that stem, that I might brush those lips!

JUDITH

(laughing) Oh Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo?

HAMNET

On my knees, you goose! (Hits her with the flowers. Will laughing)

WILL

Look at you both. Two sides of a coin…. But what of their love? Surely you must have liked their love?

HAMNET

Their love, father! How can you even write about love when mother is here..

JUDITH

.. and you're down there? Mother says you have a different lover each month. A baker's dozen every year.

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WILL

She never could count.

HAMNET

And how can we even believe in stage love? All those boy-girls.

JUDITH

Why must men play women?

HAMNET

Your play should be called Romeo and Julian!

WILL

It's the law. Talk to the queen if you wish.

HAMNET

(laughing, hamming it up) There never was a story of more woe..

JUDITH

.. than Julian and his Romeo!

WILL

(amused) You're good. Both of you,.. very good. The children of your father, I'd say. Your mother is just so, so domestic.. You see we're all such stuff as dreams are made of…. and I have a dream for us all, a magical dream..

JUDITH

So does Hamnet but his dreams aren't too magical.

HAMNET

(embarrassed) What?

JUDITH

Well, you wouldn't find them in a madrigal.

WILL

So, both of you dream but I want to talk about my Stratford dream for our family. Judith…do you dream of boys?

JUDITH

(shyly as Hamnet mocks her, caressing himself) I do, sometimes. I don't choose to. You're not responsible for your dreams.

WILL

But you can create dreams, write dreams, put them in a wood near Athens… And Hamnet, you dream also?

HAMNET

Of course.

WILL

And you dream of girls?

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HAMNET

Of course, of course I dream of girls, but..

JUDITH

He doesn't choose to! He just does…I feel sorry for the girls.

WILL

So you dream of girls?

HAMNET

Of course, now and then.

WILL

That's good, that's good, because I need you to play one.

HAMNET

(shocked, exiting) Not me father..never.. I'm your son..your son!

WILL

It'd be fun, Hamnet…fun!

JUDITH

Run, Hamnet… run!

WILL

(Exasperated, pulls out script.) If I am to bring money into this family, Judith, I need to stage this new play here in Stratford. Southampton will reward me richly but my company is stretched and I'm a couple of players short. I need you to look at this part. Our young pup Hamnet has to play Helena.

JUDITH

(Reads and looks up with a grin.) So the hitch is you need a boy to play a bitch?

WILL

(laughs) That's the hitch, my little dove. There's lots of chaps and old dogs, but no boy actors to play Helena.

JUDITH

I'd love to play it.

WILL

(arms on her shoulders) And how well you would, Judith. How pretty and pouting you would be. And funny. But people say that the theatre is no place for a young lass, so how can you help me?

JUDITH

I'll show Hamnet the script. (to audience) He's my father so I think I should.

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26

WILL

(to audience) And I'd be much the richer if she would.

JUDITH

Come father. (They exit arm in arm and Judith passes script to Hamnet, entering.)

HAMNET

Should! Should! My sister thinks I should play my part and help father out. Methinks she thinks too much. I've just seen my parents together. They're like alley cats in a narrow lane. A lane with a fish-head at the end… How would Judith know? Father is never here! We've never hunted or wrestled. I am a shadow in his life. (Silence. Reads script at table and uses a bowl of fruit with different fruits for different characters to improvise the story.) So, Hermia's father wants her to marry Demetrius, who is hopelessly in love with her. But she loves Lysander and Hermia's friend Helena loves Demetrius who, in turn, despises her. Mmm .. fun, perhaps. Helena chases after Demetrius in the woods. Strange, usually it's the boy doing the chasing and the mating, like my mate Tom. Tom the tomcat. So, Demetrius cannot have Hermia and it's killing him and Helena is chasing him and he'd like to kill her…. Do her mischief in the wood. (does a Demetrius line) "I love you not therefore pursue me not!" (Uses a high voice for Helena's line.) "I am your spaniel; and, Demetrius, the more you beat me I will fawn on you. Use me as your spaniel; spurn me, strike me, neglect me, use me as you use your dog." She's a dog for Demetrius? Sick man, my father. Mind you spaniels are stupid and loyal…. .. I wonder which girl he wants me to be. (Kisses an apple, fooling around. Tom pokes his head around entrance, surprising him.) Tom!

TOM

Wrong! I'm that piece of fruit you were playing with. (Grabs apple and script.) What's her name?

HAMNET

Helena.

TOM

Helena… (Bites into fruit.) Mmmm…she's nice..(in a high voice) "I am your spaniel.. use me as your Mahobe Resources (NZ) Ltd

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HAMNET

..lark? Not for me I'm afraid.

TOM

Come on, let's give it a go (They share a script. Tom plays Hermia, Hamnet plays Lysander.)

HAMNET

"Fair love, you faint with wandering in the wood". I can't do this Tom.

TOM

Sure you can. Just imagine I'm Billy's sister.

HAMNET

That just made it worse! Alright, alright. "We'll rest us, Hermia, if you think it good.."

TOM

"Be it so, Lysander; find you out a bed, for upon this bank will I rest my head."(Tom rests head on Hamnet's shoulder.)

HAMNET

"One turf will serve as pillow for us both.." (Pulls away, Tom sprawls back on table.) No way am I sharing a pillow with you, you mangy mutt.

TOM

(still in high voice) "One heart, one bed…"

HAMNET

They're not even your lines!

TOM

"Two bosoms.. (Hamnet wrestles, tries to subdue him.) Through your bosom (head down/up) your bosom (Tom is muffled finally but comes up with last line.) ..I can see your heart!" (Stands and gains his composure.) …Darling! (Hamnet goes to grab him again.) What's with you Hamnet? You insecure or something? It's a play. A lark.

HAMNET

Not for me it's not.

TOM

So why did you pinch your father's script?

HAMNET

He's in town. He wants to do his new dream play here in Stratford. Southampton and Essex will pay

Will’s Twins

dog, Demetrius." What do you think? I love this acting, it's such a lark. Is your father in town then? I'm hoping he can help me out, give me a start 'cos it's such a..

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Will’s Twins

for it. The catch is he needs a boy actor to play one of the lovers. He wants me in his world, I guess. TOM

So the hitch is …

HAMNET

Yes, yes….unfortunately.

TOM

Pick me, pick me! I'd love to be the bitch. Let's swap. Why not?

HAMNET

Well, look at us Tom. Think that would fool him?

TOM

Maybe (Hamnet looks doubtful.) Well, maybe not.

HAMNET

We could ask, I guess, but I don't really want to help him. He'll be straight back to London once it's over. (silence) I think I hate him.

TOM

Do you miss him?

HAMNET

No..yeah…. in a way.

TOM

So you hate him for not being here.

HAMNET

When did you touch the philosopher's stone?

TOM

He's funny, your dad, and clever and handsome. Not such a bad thing in a father, if you ask me. I wish my father was handsome.

HAMNET

Yes, Tom, that could have helped a lot. Anyway, you're sixteen. You know more about life. How can I play a girl? The only one I really know is Judith. When I give her a hug it's like hugging myself.

TOM

Yes, Hamnet my man, I do know a bit about girls. I checked out Billy's sister yesterday.

HAMNET

Really? Where?

TOM

Down by the Avon.

HAMNET

No, where did you check her out?

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TOM

Under the bridge.

HAMNET

What? I mean what did you check out?

TOM

Her mouth, my man. I stole a kiss.

HAMNET

How was it?

TOM

Nice..warm………a bit damp.

HAMNET

But what did you do with the kiss? Once you'd stolen it?

TOM

(tapping head) Put it in the old memory bank…up here. (silence)

HAMNET

So how do you actually steal a kiss, Tom?

TOM

Flattery, Hamnet. Flatter them and lie about yourself. Anything that comes to mind. Say you're wealthy, a champion wrestler, a scholar even. Tell them there's more under your shirt than meets the eye.

HAMNET

So what did you tell her?

TOM

Well I told her she has eyes like opals and a mouth like a sliced tomato.

HAMNET

And that worked?

TOM

And a figure like an hour glass..

HAMNET

Can you fall in love with a shape?

TOM

Of course..and I told her that she is beyond pretty, beyond beautiful, beyond gorgeous.

HAMNET

Which side of beyond beautiful is she?

TOM

Well, a bit on the low side but she's not to know it and besides, it was a lovely kiss.

ANNE

(offstage) Hamnet! Hamnet! Where are you, boy?

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30

TOM

Come on, let's go check out the girls down by the river.

HAMNET

Under the bridge.

TOM

See if we can steal a kiss. (They exit.)

ANNE

Bliss, they call this domestic bliss! Where are you boy? Judith? Meg?

MEG

(Bustles in.) Coming madam, coming. What seems to be the problem? Trouble afoot?

ANNE

Exactly. The chicken drumsticks for supper. Gone! Gone from the platter in the larder. Why can't you keep an eye on the household? And pick up those awful flowers.

MEG

No problem madam, don't take it to heart (Anne exits and Meg picks up flowers.) Stupid tart! Gives herself airs….don't know why I stay here at times. There must be some other household that actually has some money. And the girl Judith… she's a right little miss in my opinion. She's got her head well and truly up her own back passage. And that's my humble opinion. Mind you I'd miss young Hamnet. Just like he misses that writer dad of his. (She picks her teeth.) And the chicken wasn't bad.. Hamnet enjoyed it too. (She grabs wine and glasses and then a loaf of bread and a covered dish. She sets them down and lifts the lid, looking at the audience.) Duck….last week's… (Starts to exit.) …so's the bread. (Exits ad libbing with a smirk as Anne and Will enter.)

ANNE

Red! I saw red, Will, when I saw that chicken was missing.

WILL

Maybe it was the twins, maybe it was me (She glares at him.) Anything's possible, Anne.. in London, anyway…in the theatre, always.

ANNE

Money buys dreams some of the time. Perhaps it could buy the twins their father back? (Will removes dish lid.) Mahobe Resources (NZ) Ltd

WILL

Duck! (Leans forward and sniffs it.) Phew!

ANNE

Some bread? (They pick at it without enthusiasm, in silence. Will pours wine.) So, tell me more about this dream of yours.

WILL

It's complicated. It is set in Athens with a civilised duke and his wife- to- be and four humble workmen preparing a play for their wedding. They are led by a jolly weaver called Nick Bottom.

ANNE

Bottom?

WILL

Yes, Bottom..but their lives collide with a magical fairy kingdom led by Oberon, the king of the fairies and his queen Titiana who quarrel over an orphan boy. Also, she suspects Oberon of being unfaithful with a bouncing Amazon..

ANNE

Bouncing Amazon! Sounds like your recent history, Will..

WILL

.. but the workman and four love-struck teenage lovers find themselves outside the city walls in a magical forest. In this forest Oberon and his fairy, his jester called Puck, use a magical love juice to create confusion..

ANNE

(enthused) Does it have a dog?

WILL

Well, yes…Snout the tinker's dog.. "This dog, my dog, he says.."

ANNE

But what does it do?

WILL

Well, not a lot .. it's wooden.

ANNE

A wooden dog, not a live one.

WILL

No Anne.

ANNE

Well this is the silliest stuff I've ever heard!

WILL

Exactly! It's a little wooden dog without a speaking part.

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Oh, well, perhaps the groundlings will like it..

WILL

Anne, trust me, it will work. Let's do this season and we'll get that coat of arms and buy New Place.

ANNE

With its brick and timber, gables and bay windows. Oh, it's so grand..

WILL

So you'll talk to Hamnet for me?

ANNE

I will talk to him, Will you know I will.

WILL

Poet!

ANNE

(coy) Don't be silly! (They exit. Meg enters, puzzled and gradually clears the table.)

MEG

They puzzle me them two. Like a tempest one minute and a weird dream the next. I blame the wine meself. (She pours herself a glass.) Up and down, hot and cold. Mind you, he's more to blame. An actor, and a writer! Scum of the earth them actors. Good for nothing shadows. All that showing off and bellowing. And blokes that sound like they've had their machinery removed…you know….downstairs. Why couldn't he have been a nice farmer or a merchant or one of them grumpy, know-it-all teachers? (She exits with wine and returns lifting the dish lid.) Whew! Slightly older duck! Ah well.. (She picks gingerly at the bread as she exits with the duck.)

Will’s Twins

ANNE

32 Mahobe Resources (NZ) Ltd

From the publisher - Mahobe Resources (NZ) Ltd We hope you enjoyed the first scene of Patrick Spillane’s play “Will’s Twins”. The complete book can be purchased from our website www.mahobe.co.nz

Will’s Twins The play is based around a rehearsal of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". It moves along at a cracking pace and will make the audience laugh, until they cry. There is mirth, there is madness, there are even fairies! Is that a male playing a female dressed as a male? What is going on here! Are you confused? Don’t worry. Countless of teachers and students have had that feeling ever since Shakespeare wrote “Midsummer Nights Dream”. The story might be much ado about nothing but in the end all’s well that ends well! TOO afraid to try Shakespeare in class? Try Will’s Twins. This is a more accessible, modern version that not only keeps all of the rich language but will keep your juniors enthralled and inspired.