Tuesday, June 11, 2013

SO THAT'S THE WAY YOU LIKE IT



It's summer time and that means Shakespeare in the Park.

Or near as.....



Miller:
Get thee to Gloucester, Essex. Do thee to Wessex, Exeter. 
Fair Albany to Somerset must eke his route. 
And Scroop, do you to Westmoreland, where shall bold York 
Enrouted now for Lancaster, with forces of our Uncle Rutland, 
Enjoin his standard with sweet Norfolk's host. 
Fair Sussex, get thee to Warwicksbourne, 
And there, with frowning purpose, tell our plan 
To Bedford's tilted ear, that he shall press 
With most insensate speed 
And join his warlike effort to bold Dorset's side. 
I most royally shall now to bed, 
To sleep off all the nonsense I've just said.

They exit. Re-enter all four as rustics.

Miller:
Is it all botched up, then, Master Puke?

Bennett:
Aye, and marry is, good Master Snot.

Moore:
'Tis said our Master, the Duke, hath contrived some naughtiness against his son, the King.

Cook:
Aye, and it doth confound our merrymaking.

Miller:
What say you, Master Puke? I am for Lancaster, and that's to say for good shoe leather.

Cook:
Come speak, good Master Puke, or hath the leather blocked up thy tongue?

Moore:
Why then go trippingly upon thy laces, good Grit.

Cook:
Art leather laces thy undoing?

Moore:
They shall undo many a fair boot this day.

All:
Come, let's to our rural revel and with our song enchant our King.

Like all good Shakespeare it ends with a battle.

Enter Cook and Miller, with swords.

Miller:
Why then was this encounter nobly entertained 
And so by steel shall this our contest be buckled up. 
Come, sir. Let's to it.

Cook
:Let's to it. 
Good steel, thou shalt thyself in himself embowel.

Miller:Come, sir. (They fight) 
Ah ha, a hit!

Cook:
No, sir, no hit, a miss! Come, sir, art foppish i' the mouth.

They fight again. Cook 'hits' Miller.

Miller:
Oh, God, fair cousin, thou hast done me wrong. (He dies) 
Now is steel twixt gut and bladder interposed.

Cook:
Oh, saucy Worcester, dost thou lie so still?

Enter Bennett

Bennett:
Now hath mortality her tithe collected 
And sovereign Albany to the worms his corpse committed. 
Yet weep we not; this fustian life is short, 
Let's on to Pontefract to sanctify our court.

EXEUNT.  FOLLOWED BY A BCnU!


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