A Stage Full of Shakespeare Stories Read online

  A STAGE FULL

  OF SHAKESPEARE

  STORIES

  WRITTEN BY ANGELA McALLISTER

  ILLUSTRATED BY ALICE LINDSTROM

  CONTENTS

  Macbeth

  Romeo and Juliet

  Hamlet

  A Midsummer Night’s Dream

  The Tempest

  Twelfth Night

  Othello

  As You Like It

  Julius Caesar

  Much Ado About Nothing

  King Lear

  The Merchant of Venice

  “Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble…”

  CAST OF CHARACTERS

  Macbeth

  A Scottish general and Thane of Cawdor

  Banquo

  A Scottish general and friend of Macbeth

  King Duncan

  King of Scotland

  Lady Macbeth

  Macbeth’s wife

  Macduff

  A Scottish nobleman

  MACBETH

  One cold, wintry day, two figures were riding across a wild Scottish moor. Macbeth and his friend Banquo were brave warriors returning from battle, weary after the fight that had won a great victory for their King.

  As they made their way among the heather a grey mist swirled about them. Out of the gloom appeared three ragged figures, bent and gnarled as windswept trees.

  “What are you, wild creatures?” asked Banquo warily.

  “Speak if you can,” demanded Macbeth.

  Slowly, the figures let slip their black hoods, revealing the faces of three hideous witches. They raised their bony fingers and pointed at Macbeth.

  “All hail to thee, Macbeth, Thane of Glamis!” they screeched. “Hail, Macbeth, Thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth, who shall be King!”

  Macbeth shuddered at the sight of the weird sisters. Their strange greeting disturbed him. How could they know his name and yet mistake him for the Thane of Cawdor? And what did they mean that he would be King?

  “You seem to speak of the future,” said Banquo. “What do you see there for me?”

  The three hags turned to Banquo with crooked smiles. “You will be the father of Kings,” they hissed, “but no King yourself!” Then before either man could speak another word, they snatched the mist about them and vanished.

  “Don’t trust what you saw,” whispered Banquo as he and Macbeth continued on their way. “The strain of battle has weakened our minds. They said you would be Thane of Cawdor and wear the crown, yet both Cawdor and the King are alive and well.”

  At that moment a messenger came riding urgently across the heath.

  “I bring thanks from King Duncan for your great victory,” he told Macbeth. “You are to be rewarded with the title, Thane of Cawdor.”

  Macbeth listened in disbelief. “But the Thane of Cawdor is alive.”

  “That man is a traitor,” explained the messenger. “He confessed to helping the rebels, so his land and title are given to you.”

  Macbeth drew Banquo close. “If one of the old hags’ prophecies has come true,” he murmured, “maybe the rest will follow!”

  “Beware, my friend,” said Banquo. “Dark powers often use tricks to lead men into wickedness.”

  Macbeth pulled his cloak across his chest and concealed the ambition the witches’ words had sown in his heart. “Come,” he said, “we must go to the King.”

  When Macbeth and Banquo arrived at King Duncan’s palace they were greeted as heroes. Macbeth sent a letter to his wife telling her all that had happened.

  Lady Macbeth read about the witches’ prophecies with great interest. “Fate may need my help in this,” she thought cunningly. “I know Macbeth longs for greatness, but he is an honest man. I must teach him to be ruthless and grasp the promised crown for himself.”

  Later that day, Macbeth returned home to his castle on Dunsinane hill. “King Duncan is to honour us with a visit tonight,” he told his wife.

  Lady Macbeth smiled. “This is your chance to fulfil the witches’ prophecy, husband,” she said. “You must kill the King while he sleeps.”

  Macbeth was alarmed. “I cannot murder the King,” he protested but even as he spoke his ambition grew.

  “Where is your courage?” asked his wife. “Will you take the crown you long for, or live a coward for not daring to try?” Lady Macbeth used all her skills of persuasion, tempting and taunting her husband until, at last, Macbeth could no longer resist his hunger for power.

  “I shall arrange everything,” promised Lady Macbeth. “Just do as I say.”

  That night, Lady Macbeth gave King Duncan’s guards a sleeping potion. When everyone in the castle was asleep, Macbeth slipped through the shadows to the King’s chamber. At the door he saw the ghostly vision of a knife, floating before him. The sight of blood dripping from the blade filled Macbeth with fear. “Are you real or are you a dagger of the mind?” he whispered, but the only answer was the midnight bell. “Fate must have sent this vision to lead me,” he told himself. So he entered the chamber, grabbed the knives from the sleeping guards and killed the King.

  Next morning a cry of “Murder!” echoed through the castle. Lady Macbeth had smeared the guards with the King’s blood to make it look as if they had killed him. Before anyone could question the guards, Macbeth, pretending to be shocked and angry, killed them both.

  Everyone soon heard the tragic news. King Duncan’s sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, were grief-stricken and afraid.

  “We are not safe here,” said Donalbain. “People may accuse us in this, for there are daggers in men’s thoughts.” So they left without delay. Malcolm hurried to England for the King’s protection and Donalbain sailed to Ireland.

  Many people soon believed that Malcolm and Donalbain had fled because they were guilty of the murder. With the heirs to the throne gone, Macbeth was crowned King, just as the witches had predicted.

  However, one nobleman began to grow suspicious. Macduff, who had discovered the King’s body, wondered why Macbeth had killed the guards without allowing them to be questioned and started to suspect that things were not as they appeared.

  Banquo was also growing suspicious at how easily the witches’ prophecies had come true for Macbeth. When Macbeth summoned all his nobles to a solemn feast to celebrate his coronation Macduff stayed away but Banquo could not refuse. Feeling uneasy, Banquo decided to take a ride with his son, Fleance, while the royal feast was being prepared.

  Macbeth watched them ride away. Banquo knew what the witches had foretold. Would he guess what Macbeth had done? And what did the witches mean when they told Banquo that he would be the father of kings? Macbeth’s evil deed made him afraid and jealous of his friend. “My mind is full of scorpions,” he cried. “I shall never be safe while Banquo lives.” He ordered two men to follow Banquo and Fleance and kill them both.

  Later that day, as the royal feast began, Macbeth heard the report that Banquo was dead but that his son Fleance had escaped and run away. Macbeth hid his displeasure with a smile as he greeted his guests.

  However, when it was time to sit at the table, Macbeth was horrified to see Banquo’s gruesome ghost, sitting in his place. Macbeth shrank away in terror. “You can’t accuse me,” he spluttered, pointing at the empty chair with a trembling hand. “Your blood is cold, your eyes have no sight. Be gone, horrible shadow!”

  Everyone fell silent and stared at the King’s strange behaviour.

  “Don’t be alarmed,” said Lady Macbeth, “my husband often has visions like this.” But the noblemen were disturbed by what they saw.

  Now rumours and whispering began. People began to question King Duncan’s death and Ban
quo’s murder. Macbeth was haunted with such guilt and fear that he couldn’t sleep. “I must find the weird sisters,” he decided. “I have to know what my future holds.”

  The witches were waiting for Macbeth in a cave, lit only by the fire glowing beneath their bubbling cauldron. “By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes,” they chanted. Macbeth entered, eager to know his future.

  From the cauldron’s vapours the witches conjured up three visions. The first was the head of a soldier. “Beware of Macduff,” it warned.

  Then a child appeared, dripping with blood. “No man that is born of a woman shall harm you,” it said.

  Lastly, out of the gloom came a boy carrying a small tree. “You shall not be defeated until Birnam Wood comes to Dunisnane Hill,” he promised.

  Macbeth laughed with relief. “Every man is born of a woman,” he said, “therefore I shan’t be killed by any man. And a wood can never climb a hill, so it seems that I will die in my bed of old age!”

  Macbeth returned to his castle, no longer afraid. A messenger was waiting with the news that Macduff had fled to England to join the old king’s son, Malcolm. Macbeth was angry at this treachery. He ordered that Macduff’s castle should be destroyed and all his family killed. “Let them plot,” he jeered. “No man born of a woman can kill me!”

  Macbeth’s reign now became a time of terror as he wielded his power without fear. He trusted nobody and so everyone felt under suspicion. He took little care of his people, so poverty and hunger grew. Scotland longed for a just, wise ruler.

  Several noblemen secretly promised their support to Malcolm. Swiftly he raised an army in England and began to march north with Macduff at his side. “We shall restore the crown to its rightful owner,” Macduff promised, “and I will have revenge on Macbeth for the murder of my family.”

  Macbeth prepared his castle for a siege, still certain that no-one could threaten him. However, Lady Macbeth no longer had his strength of mind. Left alone in her chambers, she became tormented by memories of the dead King. She began walking in her sleep, trying to wash imaginary blood from her hands while muttering her guilty thoughts aloud.

  Macbeth urged the doctor to cure her but there was nothing to be done. “Only your wife can rid herself of the troubles that cause this sickness of the mind,” he said.

  Although Macbeth’s ambition had gained him the crown it had brought nothing else but despair and death. As Malcom’s army approached, he felt fate closing in on him, but he ordered his banners to be hung in defiance. Suddenly, a scream echoed through the castle. “The Queen is dead!” Her own dark deeds had overcome her.

  Macbeth hung his head in sorrow but there was no time to weep. Strange news was sweeping through the castle. “Birnam Wood has come to Dunsinane!” voices cried.

  “Liars!” shouted Macbeth, running to the window. But it was true, Malcolm’s soldiers had disguised their number by covering themselves with branches from Birnam Wood and now they were moving up the hill.

  “I’ve been tricked!” Macbeth called for his armour and led his men out from the castle to defend his crown.

  Macbeth fought fearlessly, slaying everyone in his path. “Be afraid!” he cried as he wielded his weapon, “no man born of a woman can kill me!” Then above the sound of the battle he heard a familiar voice.

  “Turn, hell-hound, turn!” It was Macduff. “Here is one who was not born, but taken from his mother’s womb.”

  Macbeth was thunderstruck. He realised how the witches had deceived him. With a bitter laugh, he turned to face his fate. Macbeth threw his shield to the ground and raised his battle-axe. “Come then,” he cried to Macduff. “Come, for I shall die like a warrior!”

  “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet.”

  CAST OF CHARACTERS

  Juliet

  Daughter of Lord Capulet

  Romeo

  Son of Lord Montague

  The Nurse

  Nurse to Juliet

  Lord and Lady Montague

  Parents to Romeo

  Lord and Lady Capulet

  Parents to Juliet

  Mercutio

  Friend of Romeo

  Tybalt

  Lord Capulet’s nephew

  Benvolio

  Friend of Romeo

  ROMEO AND JULIET

  Long ago, in the Italian city of Verona, there lived two families who had been enemies for many years. The hatred between the Capulets and the Montagues was so strong that they often fought each other in the streets. One day, after a riotous brawl that upset the good people of the city, the Prince of Verona warned Lord Capulet and Lord Montague to control their families.The next person to disturb the peace, he told them, would be punished with death.

  Not long after this, Lord Capulet arranged a masked ball and invited all the noble families of Verona. Lord Montague’s son, Romeo, knew that his family wouldn’t be welcome but his friend, Benvolio, had other ideas.

  “I’m tired of seeing you mope around, sighing about your love for Rosaline,” said Benvolio with a twinkle in his eye. “You know she doesn’t care for you at all. Come to the Capulets’ ball with Mercutio and me – when you compare Rosaline with the other beautiful girls you’ll see she’s really a crow among swans! You’ll soon find somebody else to love.”

  Romeo couldn’t resist. The Capulets’ house was a dangerous place for a Montague but he longed to see Rosaline, no matter how little she cared for him.

  On the night of the Capulets’ ball, Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio disguised themselves with masks. Romeo wandered among the guests, hoping for a glimpse of Rosaline but, unexpectedly, another girl caught his eye – a girl whose long, red hair gleamed in the torchlight. Romeo was mesmerised by her beauty. Gazing at her, he forgot all about Rosaline. He stepped nearer, his heart beating fast, willing her to notice him. When she did, she smiled shyly.

  Romeo suddenly felt that nothing in the world mattered except the girl dancing gracefully before him. “I believe I never truly loved anyone until this moment!” he declared.

  Unfortunately, Lord Capulet’s nephew, Tybalt, was standing nearby and recognised Romeo’s voice. “How dare a Montague enter this house!” he growled angrily. Tybalt pushed his way towards the door to fetch his sword but Lord Capulet stopped him and asked what was wrong.

  “Our enemy Romeo is here,” thundered Tybalt.

  Lord Capulet remembered the Prince’s warning. “Let him stay,” he told Tybalt. “Romeo isn’t causing any trouble. Although he’s a Montague, people speak well of him.”

  “I won’t watch that villain make a fool of us,” Tybalt protested.

  “If you won’t obey me then it’s you who must leave,” replied Lord Capulet sternly. “I don’t want a fight to ruin this evening.”

  Angry and frustrated, Tybalt left. “I’ll not forget this, Romeo,” he muttered under his breath.

  Unaware of the trouble he’d caused, Romeo waited for an opportunity to speak to the girl with the long red hair. When the dance was over, he removed his mask and stepped close beside her. Gently he took her hand. The girl turned to him and blushed a little, her eyes wide with wonder. Romeo knew that she felt as he did, for she left her hand in his to tell him so.

  “Does my hand offend you?” asked Romeo. “If so, my lips will kiss its rough touch away.”

  “Hands may touch to pray, as lips do,” she replied.

  “Then let our lips touch like our hands,” said Romeo and he kissed her.

  At that moment, an old woman interrupted them.

  “Your mother wants to speak to you, Madam,” she said. “You must go at once.”

  The girl let Romeo’s hand fall. She gave him a radiant smile, then disappeared into the crowd.

  “Who is she?” asked Romeo, watching after her in a happy daze.

  “Surely you don’t need to ask, Sir?” said the nurse with a frown. “That is Juliet, Lord Capulet’s daughter!” And she hurried off after her.r />
  “Juliet – a Capulet!” Romeo’s heart sank. “She is my life, so my life belongs to my enemy!”

  Suddenly, Romeo felt somebody tugging him by the arm. “Time to leave!” whispered Benvolio, who had seen Romeo kiss Juliet. He led his love-struck friend away, hoping that nobody else had noticed.

  On the way home from the ball, Romeo slipped away from Benvolio and Mercutio and turned back to the Capulets’ house, where he climbed over the garden wall, into the moonlit orchard.

  At that very moment, Juliet stepped out onto a balcony above. To her dismay, she’d just learned from her nurse that the handsome stranger at the ball was none other than Romeo, the son of her father’s enemy.

  “Oh Romeo, my love, why must you be a Montague?” she murmured, unaware that he was listening below.

  Romeo stepped out from the shadows. “I’ll give up that name if it’s your enemy,” he whispered.

  Juliet was astonished and thrilled to hear Romeo’s voice. She warned him of the danger he was in but Romeo wasn’t afraid.

  “I’d rather die now, at the hands of a Capulet, than live without your love,” he told her. In hushed voices they spoke of their feelings for each other, talking happily until the first glow of dawn appeared.

  Romeo didn’t want the night to end. “I’m afraid to wake up and find that our love is just a dream,” he told her.

  “My love for you is real, Romeo,” said Juliet. “If yours is too then let us be married, so we’ll never have to part.”

  They agreed to marry quickly, in secret, so their families couldn’t prevent the wedding. And so they parted, with the promise to meet at the chapel the following day.