Save Hamlet! (a full length play)

by Mark Harvey Levine

In this version of Hamlet, a lot of the characters turn out to be women in disguise. They realize if they don't step in, the whole thing is going to end in tragedy. With women now in charge, it's Shakespeare's famous play, but funnier and less murder-y.

"we had been reading the show in class with the intention of just keeping it there for study and the kids loved it so much that they asked last week if we...

In this version of Hamlet, a lot of the characters turn out to be women in disguise. They realize if they don't step in, the whole thing is going to end in tragedy. With women now in charge, it's Shakespeare's famous play, but funnier and less murder-y.

"we had been reading the show in class with the intention of just keeping it there for study and the kids loved it so much that they asked last week if we could perform it." -- Christina Peoples, Heritage Academy, Mesa, AZ

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Save Hamlet! (a full length play)

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  • Annette Trossbach: Save Hamlet! (a full length play) by Mark Harvey Levine
    “

    I produced this full length SAVE HAMLET at The Laboratory Theater of Florida and almost a month of performances had the same responses from our audiences: FUN! Smart! Clever! Levine uses slapstick, meta commentary on the play, Shakespearean-style verse, all while following the familiar story of Hamlet to deliver an incredibly fun night of theater, whether you know Hamlet inside and out or not. Highly recommend this show for middle schools, high schools, community theaters.

    I produced this full length SAVE HAMLET at The Laboratory Theater of Florida and almost a month of performances had the same responses from our audiences: FUN! Smart! Clever! Levine uses slapstick, meta commentary on the play, Shakespearean-style verse, all while following the familiar story of Hamlet to deliver an incredibly fun night of theater, whether you know Hamlet inside and out or not. Highly recommend this show for middle schools, high schools, community theaters.

    ”
  • Nora Louise Syran: Save Hamlet! (a full length play) by Mark Harvey Levine
    “

    Long story short, Levine had me giggling from page one. Even the stage directions are hysterical. Females in male roles --great fun, especially when Bernadette, Marcella and Horatia jump in to "help", the balance between action, humor and poetry... Good thing Mark Harvey Levine was "writing this stuff down!"

    Long story short, Levine had me giggling from page one. Even the stage directions are hysterical. Females in male roles --great fun, especially when Bernadette, Marcella and Horatia jump in to "help", the balance between action, humor and poetry... Good thing Mark Harvey Levine was "writing this stuff down!"

    ”
  • Karen Fix Curry: Save Hamlet! (a full length play) by Mark Harvey Levine
    “

    This fun retelling of Hamlet is genius! Calling out famous quotes and wreaking havoc on this normally dark tragedy in the best possible way. Teens and young adults will love being in this wisecracking, silly, and insightfully funny rollercoaster ride. And audiences will have side aches from laughing so hard. A real gem!

    This fun retelling of Hamlet is genius! Calling out famous quotes and wreaking havoc on this normally dark tragedy in the best possible way. Teens and young adults will love being in this wisecracking, silly, and insightfully funny rollercoaster ride. And audiences will have side aches from laughing so hard. A real gem!

    ”
View all 12 recommendations
Female (7 - 9):
1. BERNADETTE: Late Teens-Early 20s, Disguises herself as Bernardo. Snarky.
2. FRANCESCA: Late Teens-Early 20s, Disguises herself as Francisco. Also plays CORNELIUS, REYNALDO and GARFUNKEL. Enthusiastic, resourceful.
3. MARCELLA: Late Teens-Early 20s, Disguises herself as Marcellus. Smart, Type A.
4. HORATIA: Late Teens-Early 20s, Disguises herself as Horatio. Bookish, nerdy, stuffy. Likes Hamlet.
5. GERTRUDE: 40s-50s, Hamlet’s mom. Overbearing, embarrassing.
6. OPHELIA: Late Teens-Early 20s, Polonius’ daughter. Increasingly feisty.
7. FIRST PLAYER: Runs a troupe of actors. (Can also play FIRST GRAVEDIGGER AND FORTINBRAS)
o FIRST GRAVEDIGGER: Digs graves. It’s a living.
o FORTINBRAS: Late Teens-Early 20s, Prince of Norway. Sheepish.
<BR>
Male (5):
8. GHOST: 40s-60s, The Ghost of Hamlet’s father.
9. CLAUDIUS: 40s-60s The current King. Not very bright. Talks like a 1920's gangster.
10. LAERTES: Late Teens-Early 20s, Ophelia’s brother, Polonius’ son. Kind of a hot-head.
11. POLONIUS: 40s-60s Advisor to the King. Ophelia and Laertes’ father. An overconfident idiot.
12. HAMLET: Late Teens-Early 20s, Prince of Denmark. Nice, but a little out of his depth.
<BR>
Gender Neutral (3-4):
13. ROSENCRANTZ: Late Teens-Early 20s, School Friend of Hamlet
14. GUILDENSTERN: Late Teens-Early 20s, School Friend of Hamlet
15. VOLTEMAND: Ambassador to Norway. (Also plays OSRIC.)
o OSRIC: A local Lord. Kind of an idiot.
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A note about casting: This play is not about race, and a diverse cast is encouraged.

Development History

  • Reading, Laboratory Theatre of Florida, Fort Myers, FL, 2022
  • Reading, Private Writing Group, 2021
  • Reading, Indiana Playwrights Circle, 2021
  • Reading, Neo Ensemble Theatre, Los Angeles, 2021

Production History

  • High School, Caddo Mills High School, Caddo Mills, TX, 2025
  • High School, Centreville Jr/Sr High School, Centreville, MI, 2025
  • High School, Concordia Parish Players, Vidalia, LA, 2025
  • High School, Ridgewood High School, West Lafayette, OH, 2025
  • High School, West Essex Regional High School, North Caldwell, NJ, 2025
  • Professional, Eden Prairie Players, Eden Prairie, MN, 2025
  • High School, Adair County High School, Columbia, KY, 2024
  • High School, Excelsior Classical Academy, Durham, NC, 2024
  • High School, Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy, Washington, DC, 2024
  • High School, Heritage Academy, Mesa, AZ, 2023
  • High School, Wallenpaupack Area High School, Hawley, PA, 2023
  • Professional, Laboratory Theatre of Florida, Fort Myers, FL, 2023