Changes

==Characters==

==Characters==

The Ghost - A spirit of the dead King Hamlet

The Ghost - A spirit of the dead King Hamlet

Claudius - Recently crowned King of Denmark, brother of King Hamlet

Claudius - Recently crowned King of Denmark, brother of King Hamlet

Gertrude - Widow of King Hamlet

Gertrude - Widow of King Hamlet

Hamlet - Prince, son of King Hamlet and Gertrude

Hamlet - Prince, son of King Hamlet and Gertrude

Horatio - Hamlet's lifelong friend.

Horatio - Hamlet's lifelong friend.

Polonius - Elderly, pompous advisor to the king

Polonius - Elderly, pompous advisor to the king

Laertes - Polonius' son

Laertes - Polonius' son

Ophelia - Polonius' daughter and lover of Hamlet

Ophelia - Polonius' daughter and lover of Hamlet

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern - Two buffoonish school friends of Hamlet

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern - Two buffoonish school friends of Hamlet

Fortinbras - Prince of Norway

Fortinbras - Prince of Norway

The grave diggers

The grave diggers

Watchmen

Watchmen

also: Actors, Courtiers, Guards, Norwegian Soldiers etc.

also: Actors, Courtiers, Guards, Norwegian Soldiers etc.

==Synopsis==

==Synopsis==

The play begins with the palace watchmen being terrified by the appearance of a ghost of the old King Hamlet. Meanwhile, in the court, King Claudius (King Hamlet's brother) proclaims his wedding to Gertrude, the widow of King Hamlet. Prince Hamlet, son of king Hamlet and Gertrude is melancholy at both his father's death, and at his mother's "incest" with Claudius. Laertes, son of the king's adviser Polonius, is leaving on a trip. Laertes tells his sister Ophelia to not get too involved with Prince Hamlet; so does her father, so she promises to break off the relationship.  

The play begins with the palace watchmen being terrified by the appearance of a ghost of the old King Hamlet. Meanwhile, in the court, King Claudius (King Hamlet's brother) proclaims his wedding to Gertrude, the widow of King Hamlet. Prince Hamlet, son of king Hamlet and Gertrude is melancholy at both his father's death, and at his mother's "incest" with Claudius. Laertes, son of the king's adviser Polonius, is leaving on a trip. Laertes tells his sister Ophelia to not get too involved with Prince Hamlet; so does her father, so she promises to break off the relationship.  

==Movie Adaptations==

==Movie Adaptations==

Major film versions of the play have starred [[Laurence Olivier]], [[Mel Gibson]], and [[Kenneth Branagh]]. (While both Olivier and Branagh directed and starred in their versions, [[Franco Zeffirelli]] directed the one with Gibson.)

Major film versions of the play have starred [[Laurence Olivier]], [[Mel Gibson]], and [[Kenneth Branagh]]. (While both Olivier and Branagh directed and starred in their versions, [[Franco Zeffirelli]] directed the one with Gibson.)