The Play's the Thing...

[roguerouge]

I'm looking for ideas for plays that a bard might act in or attend. Last session, I told a version of the Hunchback of Notre Dame, wherein the audience got to throw fruit at the actors as part of the play.

That was a lot of fun. I'd love suggestions for DnD appropriate plays that already exist, but plot synopses for plays that don't exist would be awesome too.

Any suggestions?

 

[shilsen]

How about a couple of Greyhawk classics?

Othello, the Half-Orc of Verbobonc
Hamlet, the Prince of Dyvers

 

[jdrakeh]

The King in Yellow? A Synopsis. It's a fictional play, of course, but the imagination will do most of the work for you.

 

[Heckler]

There is TONS of material out there if you're willing to look.

Shakespeare is the obvious suggestion.

She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith is a fun comedy that could work.

Throughout history the church has been at various times the greatest supporter and biggest censor of the theatre. An example of church supported theatre would be morality plays, Everyman being an example.

If you like Celtic flavor, look at the works of William Butler Yeats and Lady Augusta Gregory. Both wrote plays inspired by the celtic mythology.

Any of your ancient Greek and Roman works could be adapted.

Look at Lope de Vega and Miguel de Cervantesfor Spanish influence.

Also look at commedia dell'arte. It originated in Italy and spread throughout Europe. Basically, it was a travelling company of stock characters that travelled from town to town doing improvised shows. They had a wagon which they would park in the town square, then the wagon converted into the stage and they would perform for donations.

Another style that could be appropriate is the melodrama.

Gilbert and Sullivan should be easy to work in, especially The Pirates of Penzance.

Also bear in mind that many of these historical works are a great place to mine ideas for plotlines. I've been toying with the idea of running games based on Henrik Ibsen's An Enemy of the People, Eugene Ionesco's Rhinoceros and Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd (now playing at a movie theatre near you).

Edit: Little Shop of Horrors could also make for a fun adventure. Use the greenvice from MMII for Audrey II.