Hall Lee - Shakespeare in Love

SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE also by Lee Hall from Faber BILLY ELLIOT: THE SCREENPLAY THE PITMEN PAINTERS published by BBC Books SPOONFACE STEINBERG AND OTHER PLAYS published by Methuen PLAYS: ONE PLAYS: TWO THE ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO COOKING WITH ELVIS & BOLLOCKS THE GOOD HOPE A SERVANT TO TWO MASTERS Shakespeare in Love adapted for the stage by Lee Hall based on the screenplay by Marc Norman & Tom Stoppard Grove Press New York Copyright 2014 by Lee Hall Cover image: Company with Tom Bateman as Will Photo by Johan Persson Disney All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. Scanning, uploading, and electronic distribution of this book or the facilitation of such without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the authors rights is appreciated. Any member of educational institutions wishing to photocopy part or all of the work for classroom use, or anthology, should send inquiries to Grove Atlantic, 154 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10011 or CAUTION: Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that Shakespeare In Love is subject to a royalty.

It is fully protected under the copyright laws of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and all British Commonwealth countries, and all countries covered by the International Copyright Union, the Pan-American Copyright Convention, and the Universal Copyright Convention. All rights, including professional, amateur, motion picture, recitation, public reading, radio broadcasting, television, video or sound taping, all other forms of mechanical or electronic reproduction, such as information storage and retrieval systems and photocopying, and rights of translation into foreign languages, are strictly reserved. First-class professional, stock, and amateur applications for permission to perform it, and those other rights stated above, must be made in advance to Manager, Theatrical Licensing, Disney Theatrical Group, 214 W. 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036and by paying the requisite fee, whether the play is presented for charity or gain and whether or not admission is charged. Published simultaneously in Canada Printed in the United States of America First published in 2014 by Faber and Faber Limited 7477 Great Russell Street, London wc1b 3da ISBN 978-0-8021-2395-4 eISBN 978-0-8021-9106-9 Grove Press an imprint of Grove Atlantic 154 West 14th Street New York, NY 10011 Distributed by Publishers Group West groveatlantic.com Shakespeare in Love was rst presented at the Nol Coward Theatre, London, produced by Disney Theatrical Productions and Sonia Friedman Productions, on 22 July 2014. The... The...

The company create Wills desk. They assemble around the desk and Will takes his place. Throughout the play, wherever possible, the company observe the action when they are not part of it. Shall I compare... thee? Shall I compare thee!... to a...? Shall I compare thee to a... sum... a sum... a something, something... Damn it. Damn it.

Shall I compare thee to a mummers play? Shall I compare thee... to... an autumn morning? An afternoon in springtime? Zounds. This is not right either. Marlowe appears from within the ensemble and the two move freely around the ensemble. Marlowe A sonnet.

I thought you were writing a play. Will A month overdue to Henslowe but nothing comes. I have lost my gift, Kit. I dont know what it is. My quill is broken, my well is dry. The proud tower of the imagination hath collapsed completely.

Marlowe Interesting. And how are your marital relations? Will The Ardens? Marlowe The bedroom. Will As cold as her heart. Marlowe So you are free to love. Will Yet not to write, so it seems. Leave me, Kit.

Marlowe Ive almost nished my new play for Burbage. More blood and thunder but he pays well for it. I hear he plays your Two Gentlemen of Verona for Her Majesty this very afternoon. Will My play, for the Queen! Marlowe A summers day. Will What? Marlowe A summers day. Start with something lovely, temperate and thoroughly trite.

Gives you somewhere to go. Marlowe leaves. The ensemble reconvene around Wills desk. Will ( unconvinced ) A summers day?! He writes reluctantly. Shall I compare thee... summers day? Mmm? Thou art more... something something something... something something something...

SCENE TWO HANGING OF HENSLOWE Henslowe Arrrrgghhh!! As Henslowe screams the ensemble scatter, many of them remaining onstage, observing. Henslowe is strung up over hot coals. Lambert holds a rope to move him up and down. Fennyman You mongrel! Why do you howl when it is I who am bitten? What am I, Mr Lambert? Lambert Bitten, Mr Fennyman. Fennyman How badly, Mr Frees? Frees Twelve pounds, one shilling and fourpence, Mr Fennyman, plus interest. Henslowe Aaarrggh.

I can pay you! Fennyman When? Mr Henslowe? Henslowe Two weeks. Three at the most. Aaarrgh. For pitys sake. Fennyman Drop him. Where will you get...

Frees Sixteen pounds, ve shillings and ninepence... Henslowe I have a wonderful new play! Fennyman A play? Henslowe A play, Mr Fennyman. Fennyman Let him have it. Henslowe Its a comedy. Fennyman Cut off his nose. Henslowe A new comedy.

Fennyman And his ear. Henslowe By Will Shakespeare. Fennyman Who? Henslowe Richard Burbage and his men play his Two Gentlemen of Verona today for the Queen at Whitehall. Fennyman Shakespeare? Never heard of him. Henslowe I think he has potential. We will be partners, Mr Fennyman.

Fennyman Partners? Henslowe The plays a crowd-tickler mistaken identities, a shipwreck, a pirate king, a bit with a dog and love triumphant. Frees Didnt you see that one, Lambert? Lambert Yeah, and I didnt like it. Henslowe But this time it is by Shakespeare. Fennyman Whats it called? Henslowe Romeo and Ethel the Pirates Daughter . Fennyman Good title. Henslowe is released.

A play, that takes time. Find actors... rehearsals, lets say open in three weeks. Thats what ve hundred groundlings at tuppence each, in addition four hundred backsides at threepence a penny extra for a cushion, call it two hundred cushions, say two performances for safety. How much is that, Mr Frees? Frees Twenty pounds to the penny. Fennyman Correct! Henslowe But I have to pay the actors and the author.

Fennyman A share of the prots. Henslowe Theres never any. Fennyman Of course not! Henslowe Mr Fennyman, I think you may have hit on something. From within the watching ensemble Burbage comes. Burbage Gentlemen of Verona. Fennyman Sign here.

Burbage This is your two-minute call. Henslowe Its blank. Fennyman I know. Fennyman, Frees, Lambert and Henslowe take their leave as the new scene begins. SCENE THREE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA We are backstage at Whitehall Palace. Burbage Act One, Scene One.

Wardrobe Mistress, quickly. Mistress Quickly Ready, sir! Burbage Maestro. Maestro Ready. Burbage And silence. Will Burbage! Burbage Oh God, an author. Will How dare you perform me here in front of the Queen without my say-so? I am still owed half of the commission.

Burbage Not from me. I stole it from Henslowe. If he stole it from you thats his business. Will Why is there a dog? Burbage The Queen loves a dog. Will Theres no dog in my Two Gentlemen of Verona . Burbage There is now.

Will I demand to be paid for this, Burbage. Burbage I told you I will make you a partner, Shakespeare. For fty pounds. Your hireling days will be over. Will Where will I go for fty pounds? Burbage I hear Anne Hathaway is a woman of property. Will No, she has a cottage.

What would you give me for a comedy all but done? Burbage Whats the part? Will Romeo. Wit, swordsman, lover. Burbage And the title? Will Romeo . Burbage I shall play him. Heres two sovereigns, and two more when you show me the pages. Now begone ! Tilney My masters, are you mad? Her Majesty is waiting! Burbage We are ready, Mr Tilney.