SUMMARY:
This year marks the 12th time that Bob Jones University has staged Hamlet. This year's
production coincides with the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death and serves as a
tribute to the classic tale of revenge and reflection. Ron Pyle played the lead role in tonight's
performance and was previously triple-cast as the ghost and two other characters in 2005. In
Act I, Scene I, Bernardo says, "I have seen nothing," to which Horatio replies, "Tis but our
fantasy and will not let belief take hold of him touching this dreaded site twice seen of us.
Therefore, I have entreated him along with us to watch the minutes of this knife, but if again
this apparition comes, he may approve our eyes and speak to us. Touch, touch, will not
appear." In Act V, Scene II, we learn that Fortinbras of Norway dared to combat and was
slain by Hamlet. As the crew prepares to speak, the scene is interrupted by a fearful
summons causing them to start "like a guilty thing upon a fearful summons." However, they
soon notice the morning sunrise and continue their performance.
Hamlet: "And his son a little more than kin and less than kind. How is it that the clouds still
hang on you?" Reply: "Not so, my lord. I am too much of the sun." Hamlet: "Cast thy nighted
color off and let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark. Do not forever seek for thy noble
father in the dust." Hamlet's mother: "Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet. I pray
thee, stay with us. Go not to Wittenberg." Hamlet: "I shall in all my best obey you, madam.
What is a loving and a fair reply?" Reply: "Be as yourself in Denmark, madam. Come, this
gentle and unforced accord of him that sits smiling to my heart." Hamlet: "I think I saw him
yesternight." Other character: "Saw who?" Hamlet: "The lord, the king, your father." Other
character: "The king, my father?" Hamlet: "Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, with
witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts,-- O wicked wit and gifts, that have the power So to
seduce!--won to his shameful lust The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen. O Hamlet,
what a falling-off was there! From me, whose love was of that dignity That it went hand in
hand even with the vow I made to her in marriage, and to decline Upon a wretch whose
natural gifts were poor To those of mine!" Other characters: "Hail to your lordship!" "I am glad
to see you well: Horatio,--or I do forget myself." "The same, my lord, And your poor servant
ever." Hamlet: "Sir, my good friend; I'll change that name with you: And what make you from
Wittenberg, Horatio? Marcellus?" Other characters: "My good lord--" "I am very glad to see
you." Hamlet: "Horatio,--or I do forget myself." Other character: "The same, my lord, And
your poor servant ever." Other character: "Two nights together Had these gentlemen,
Marcellus and Bernardo, On their watch, in the dead vast and middle of the night, Been thus
encountered. A figure like your father, Armed at point exactly, cap-a-pe, Appears before
them, and with solemn march Goes slow and stately by them: thrice he walk'd By their
oppress'd and fear-surprised eyes, Within his truncheon's length; whilst they, distilled Almost
to jelly with the act of fear, Stand dumb and speak not to him. This to me In dreadful secrecy
impart they did; And I with them the third night kept the watch; Where, as they had deliver'd,
both in time, Form of the thing, each word made true and good, The apparition comes: I
knew your father; These hands are not more like." Hamlet: "But where was this?" Other
character: "My lord, upon the platform where we watch'd." Hamlet: "Did you not speak to it?"
Other character: "My lord, I did; But answer made it none: yet once methought It lifted up its
head and did address Itself to motion, like as it would speak; But even then the morning cock
crew loud, And at the sound it shrunk in haste away, And vanish'd from our sight." Hamlet:
"Indeed? Indeed? Ah, ha! Come, some music! come, the recorders! For if the king like not
the comedy, Why then, belike, he likes it not, perdy. Come, some music!"
This year marks the 12th time that Bob Jones University has staged Hamlet. This year's
production coincides with the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death and serves as a
tribute to the classic tale of revenge and reflection. Ron Pyle played the lead role in tonight's
performance and was previously triple-cast as the ghost and two other characters in 2005. In
Act I, Scene I, Bernardo says, "I have seen nothing," to which Horatio replies, "Tis but our
fantasy and will not let belief take hold of him touching this dreaded site twice seen of us.
Therefore, I have entreated him along with us to watch the minutes of this knife, but if again
this apparition comes, he may approve our eyes and speak to us. Touch, touch, will not
appear." In Act V, Scene II, we learn that Fortinbras of Norway dared to combat and was
slain by Hamlet. As the crew prepares to speak, the scene is interrupted by a fearful
summons causing them to start "like a guilty thing upon a fearful summons." However, they
soon notice the morning sunrise and continue their performance.
Hamlet: "And his son a little more than kin and less than kind. How is it that the clouds still
hang on you?" Reply: "Not so, my lord. I am too much of the sun." Hamlet: "Cast thy nighted
color off and let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark. Do not forever seek for thy noble
father in the dust." Hamlet's mother: "Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet. I pray
thee, stay with us. Go not to Wittenberg." Hamlet: "I shall in all my best obey you, madam.
What is a loving and a fair reply?" Reply: "Be as yourself in Denmark, madam. Come, this
gentle and unforced accord of him that sits smiling to my heart." Hamlet: "I think I saw him
yesternight." Other character: "Saw who?" Hamlet: "The lord, the king, your father." Other
character: "The king, my father?" Hamlet: "Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, with
witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts,-- O wicked wit and gifts, that have the power So to
seduce!--won to his shameful lust The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen. O Hamlet,
what a falling-off was there! From me, whose love was of that dignity That it went hand in
hand even with the vow I made to her in marriage, and to decline Upon a wretch whose
natural gifts were poor To those of mine!" Other characters: "Hail to your lordship!" "I am glad
to see you well: Horatio,--or I do forget myself." "The same, my lord, And your poor servant
ever." Hamlet: "Sir, my good friend; I'll change that name with you: And what make you from
Wittenberg, Horatio? Marcellus?" Other characters: "My good lord--" "I am very glad to see
you." Hamlet: "Horatio,--or I do forget myself." Other character: "The same, my lord, And
your poor servant ever." Other character: "Two nights together Had these gentlemen,
Marcellus and Bernardo, On their watch, in the dead vast and middle of the night, Been thus
encountered. A figure like your father, Armed at point exactly, cap-a-pe, Appears before
them, and with solemn march Goes slow and stately by them: thrice he walk'd By their
oppress'd and fear-surprised eyes, Within his truncheon's length; whilst they, distilled Almost
to jelly with the act of fear, Stand dumb and speak not to him. This to me In dreadful secrecy
impart they did; And I with them the third night kept the watch; Where, as they had deliver'd,
both in time, Form of the thing, each word made true and good, The apparition comes: I
knew your father; These hands are not more like." Hamlet: "But where was this?" Other
character: "My lord, upon the platform where we watch'd." Hamlet: "Did you not speak to it?"
Other character: "My lord, I did; But answer made it none: yet once methought It lifted up its
head and did address Itself to motion, like as it would speak; But even then the morning cock
crew loud, And at the sound it shrunk in haste away, And vanish'd from our sight." Hamlet:
"Indeed? Indeed? Ah, ha! Come, some music! come, the recorders! For if the king like not
the comedy, Why then, belike, he likes it not, perdy. Come, some music!"
