< Chapter 27: Hamlet – 1 >
When people think of “literature,” they often think of poetry or novels.
However, the most influential form of literature is actually the play. This is because plays are the foundation of storytelling.
To present a story in any format other than text, a script is essential.
Plays, musicals, dramas, and movies all require scripts, and the roots of these scripts lie in the play.
“You’re writing a play…?”
“Yeah.”
“But you’re a novelist, aren’t you?”
“Well, there are things like radio dramas.”
“They exist. Trust me.”
Plays are the purest form of storytelling. Narration, stage directions, scenes, and dialogues—plays strip stories down to only the essential elements necessary for their expression.
Therefore, plays are literature in their own right and are not subordinate to performing arts like theater or musicals.
A play written without the intention of being performed is called a “closet drama.” Goethe’s Faust is a representative closet drama.
“Still, it would be better to write a play that can be performed.”
While the performance culture in this world was highly developed, the “dramatic literature” that underpinned it was not. This was due to the spectacle of “performance magic.”
The scripts in this world were merely directives to showcase performance magic.
Recently, adaptations of novels into performances had gained popularity, but honestly, these adaptations were not well-received.
Just because someone is thrown into Wonderland doesn’t mean one can empathize with Alice’s story.
‘I don’t know many plays, but…’
Unlike novels, the number of plays I remembered was only a few dozen. But that was enough. Those few dozen plays were masterpieces that had dominated the culture of my previous life.
* * *
When asked to name their favorite author, book lovers would likely name various figures.
A fan of Russian literature might say Dostoevsky, someone who enjoys social criticism might say George Orwell, and a fan of epic fantasy would likely mention Tolkien.
However, if asked to name the greatest writer, whether a book lover or someone who had never read a book in their life, there was one name that everyone would think of first.
“Is this the new play you’re writing, sir?”
“Yes.”
“It’s titled Hamlet, I see.”
William Shakespeare. Anyone who had lived on Earth in a previous life would have heard his name at least once.
“I didn’t know the young master was interested in plays. You’ve always sought novels.”
“I intend to start taking an interest now.”
Shakespeare was synonymous with ‘English literature.’ He was the one who perfected the English language.
The constitution of the English, the deity of English literature, the poet of the world…. The titles attributed to Shakespeare were so grand that they almost felt like ridiculous exaggerations.
There was even a saying that if the greatest work in history was Don Quixote, the greatest writer in history was Shakespeare.
And the ‘Hamlet’ I was going to plagiarize was regarded as the masterpiece among his four major tragedies.
“Shall I bring several plays for your research?”
“No, I plan to leave the details to an expert.”
“Pardon?”
“Wouldn’t a playwright be the best at writing plays?”
If I had to plagiarize a novel by myself, I would have struggled just as I did when translating ‘Don Quixote.’ But now, there were many talented students around. I planned to rely on their abilities this time as well.
* * *
The fan fiction contest for ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.’ The student who won the grand prize in that contest was a playwright.
He received the grand prize for reimagining ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ as a play titled ‘Jekyll and Hyde.’ The name of that student was─.
“Ian Plummer, student.”
“Yes!”
“Let’s go together.”
“Yes!”
It was Ian Plummer. Ian Plummer was the youngest member of a rather influential noble family.
If I remembered correctly, Count Plummer led a faction of the Conservatives in the House of Lords.
My father often bad-mouthed him as an incomprehensible old man at the dining table.
However, the youngest, Ian Plummer, enjoyed a free life, indulging in arts and culture.
“I’m planning to write a play this time, and I need your help.”
“I will show you my skills!”
“I like your confidence. Rolls Camel will also be working with us, so let’s do our best together.”
“…Do you mean that stutterer?”
Ian’s expression momentarily crumpled but quickly returned to normal. He seemed to realize that speaking ill of a fellow writer might leave a bad impression on me.
“Yes, despite the stutter, their sense for language is… genius. I believe they will be quite helpful in this project.”
“I see….”
Ian Plummer’s eyes sparkled. Despite his aristocratic pride, he was fundamentally a lover of the arts. He knew how to show respect to talented writers in his own way.
He seemed a bit hesitant, calling himself a stutterer, but if they worked together, they would soon become close. Probably.
* * *
“You, you! A stutterer! What do you know about performances?”
“Ho, honestly, I think Ian’s lines are, ter, terrible…”
“In a play, you have to consider the presence of the actor performing the lines! Just throwing in good lines without any pacing control doesn’t work!”
“But, but my lines are better…”
Hmm. Excellent. This is how writers should be.
“Writer Homer! What do you think?”
“Writer, writer Homer, my, my lines are better, right?”
“I think both are good.”
The lines refined by Rolls Camel were close to classic poetry. Just as the writer Shakespeare created numerous neologisms, her poetic language and sense could elevate the artistry and sensitivity of ‘Hamlet’ to the extreme.
On the other hand, the lines refined by Ian Plummer were very sophisticated and intuitive. His ability to control the pacing with breaths and pauses was impressive.
Given that Shakespeare’s works possess a timeless universality and charm, this was also an essential element.
“Why don’t we use both?”
“What?”
“This isn’t a novel, it’s a play. Since the purpose is performance, it’s okay to have multiple versions.”
Unless it was a Lesedrama, what they were writing now was a play intended for performance. Naturally, it could be altered as needed. Plays are inherently a type of literature that can be modified very organically depending on the situation or region.
Even the works of Shakespeare in the previous life had multiple versions.
“It would be good to perform both and let the audience evaluate them.”
And from my perspective, the more works, the better. Although Hamlet itself was something I stole from my previous life, the fun of a work wasn’t necessarily just in the story.
Reading Hamlet reborn by the hands of two people would also be quite enjoyable. Like Alice reborn in the sentences of Rolls Camel. Enjoying one work in various flavors is also the joy of translation.
“Doesn’t that sound fun?”
* * *
For the performance of Hamlet, we received help from President Kindersley.
As a result, it was decided that Hamlet would premiere at the ‘Heiden Troupe,’ which was considered the best troupe in the empire.
The theater was also the same venue where ‘Alice in Wonderland’ had been performed last time.
I, too, came to the theater with my family to watch the play.
“Ahem, at my age, what am I doing at a performance? You all should go on your own. Why drag me along…,” my father grumbled as he sat in his seat, while my mother smiled gracefully at him.
My brother was fussing next to me.
“Wow, a play written by that writer Homer! My two favorite things are works by Homer and performances by the Heiden Troupe! Got it? You heartless little brother?”
“I’m the Homer.”
“You really lack human touch. How can someone like you write such great works…?”
“Well.”
“Anyway, geniuses are amazing.”
I wished I were a genius, too. If I were, I could write dozens of works myself and be self-sufficient.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have that kind of talent. All I could do was plagiarize. Fortunately, there were talented people unlike me, and I could borrow their skills.
– The performance will start soon. Audience members with magical devices related to silence, illusions, or amplification, please leave them with the staff waiting at the entrance. This is for maintaining a pleasant performance environment. Thank you for your understanding.
“It’s about to start. But do people really carry those kinds of magical devices around?”
“Who knows? Royalty or mages from the magic tower might. Or maybe some vain merchants.”
I saw some people stand up and head towards the entrance. It seemed some people really did have such devices. Once everyone who stood up had returned to their seats, the lights dimmed, and the world turned dark.
[Act 1. Elsinore. A platform before the castle.]
[Bernardo: Who’s there?]
And so, the performance began.