To Or Not To Be

By Sonia J Arora

Stage Setting

Single stage setup requiring mainly these items: i)Simple furniture like bed frame or couch, ii)Stock of Books iii)Shakespear pictures, iv) Few empty carton boxes v) Antique showpieces, including a small mirror vi) Apple laptop vi) Apple juice, Apples with a glass vii) Single big light bulb (optional) viii) A diary/journal with few crumpled paper notes.

MAIN CHARACTERS

Steve Adam: Loving partner to Eva.

Eva: Loving partner to Adam.

Shakespeare: The Man of Poetry himself. Seen both as a portrait and as a ghost in the play.

Ghost characters (around 3) of Shakespeare’s famous classics like: 

1.Valentine (Romeo and Juliet)

2.King Hamlet- Ghost of Hamlet’s father (Hamlet)

3.Banquo- Ghost of Banquo (Macbeth)

4. Lady Anne- Wife of King Richard III

Scene 1: A dimly lit room in an old hotel, filled with antique furniture and an eerie atmosphere. An old mirror leans against the wall.

(In front of the audience is a nice, living room. What keeps its magic alive is the atmosphere of William Shakespeare. Shelves full of plays and books; portraits of Shakespeare, including a human-sized one behind a welcoming couch/bed. A man by the name of ADAM walks in carrying a few moving boxes while being followed by a woman named EVA doing the same thing. Before they set anything down, they look around in astonishment as proud owner renting the cottage for few days)

Adam and Evan enter this cottage.

ADAM 

(Holding Eva in his arms) Eva, my sweetheart, my eve. Can you believe that we live here now for days?

EVA

I can’t imagine Steve ADAM. Woohoo. We're staying at Shakespeare's, The legend Shakespear’s own home, Stratford-upon-Avon! I love you to the moon and..

ADAM

(Pointing towards Human like portrait standing as Shakespear and moving close to him) Back..to think that Shakespeare… Shakespeare lived in this house…

EVA

Wrote his famous poems and plays…

ADAM

In this house…

EVA

Slept on that bed…

ADAM

In this house…

EVA

And used that bathroom…and saw himself in this mirror. 

(EVA cautiously exploring the room. She notices the old mirror and picks it up, examining it closely.)

EVA (to herself) 

      What a strange, old mirror... 

         (*TWIST#1 Mystery/Horror*)

(As she holds the mirror, a black shadow appears in its reflection. Startled, she gasps and throws the mirror to her right. The mirror lands on a journal on a nearby table. ADAM rushes in, concerned)

ADAM

     What Happened? 

(He sees the journal and quickly picks it up. Opening it, he finds cryptic messages, written on it, he reads it aloud.)

ADAM

“The pen is mightier than the sword.

(Suddenly, a crumpled piece of paper from audience comes and hits him. A sinister laughter echoes through the room.)

EERIE VOICE(offstage)

(echoing) Hehehe... Put your pen to paper.

EVA (trembling)

Who oo whose that? 

(Eva too gets a crumbled paper folded on to her thrown from audience) 

GHOST OF KING HAMLET 

(Voice from Audience)

Hehe … King Hamlet. 

EVA 

(Shaking)

Adam, stop, close this journal! This is too creepy...

(Then she feels a push on her hand and looks down to find another crumpled paper on her wrist. She unfolds it.)

EVA 

(Nervously)

Your’s truly Lady Ann? Wife of King Richard III.

GHOST CHARACTER-2

(Another voice from Audience) 

Eva, flip the paper, read the note.

(Scared with ghosts around, Eva folds the crumble paper back and put them all into a nearby dustbin under a table. Adam though is excited, he is turning the pages of the journal in hand)

ADAM 

Wait Eva, don’t be scared. See, there’s more written here too..’Eat, Key, Knowledge, Power, Opportunity, Fruit..’

(Eva snatches the journal from ADAM’s hands.)

EVA (Shaking)

We need to call the cottage manager, I won’t be able to stay here. This is haunted! (Light goes off the moment she screams haunted, she screams higher)

ADAM (Tuns on the light)

(*TWIST#2 Secret Reveal*)

Hey Sweetheart, relax. I should have told you. Actually, hotel staff shared with me that this place is haunted by the ghost of Shakespeare and some other entities. (Eva jumps, Adam holds her hands) But imagine encountering them in this life- straight out of the timeless classics to this one hell of a crap era! The myth in the hotel is that Shakespear’s ghost will choose one in a millions to give his special message, special power….Thats why this cottage is so popular, don’t be stupid to be scared. Hey Shakespear, we are not scared… we are excited to meet you… pls do meet us (to Eva) Darling. Maybe we’re the chosen ones...this may be life changing experience for you and I. Your dream desire to be world famous, going viral imagine in  tiktok, facebook, insta, youtube, all over the world …

(Eva feeling better.)

EVA

Oh that’s quite a mystery Adam...I think ghosts are getting attracted to me already (teasing Adam)..

ADAM 

(cutting her off here)

Exactly, without makeup, the ghosts might see themselves in you, and mistake you for one of their own kins in this cottage.

EVA

Maybe there are hidden gems, precious words from some supernatural powers. Just imagine us writing something as great as his plays like the next Romeo and Juliet...

ADAM

Like our own Notebook or Twilight. 

EVA

I think we should head for a deep sleep now. 

(The couple turns the lights off, goes to bed to sleep. EVA immediately falls asleep. Adam’s face of excitement can be compared to a child before Christmas. He turns around and hugs the Human Shakespeare standing as portrait.)

ADAM

To BE why NOT to be a Shakespear! Good night Sir, thou shalt bless me with thy artttt!

(Immediately instrumental music plays in the background while Adam kisses the portrait and lies back down. Music by Brian Kay- link- 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaYtwaaqWtk) 

Scene 2:Shakespear’s entry

(*TWIST#3 Surprise/Horror/Humour/Mystery*)

In a minute, Adam is off to sleep. SHAKESPEARE’s human statue moves and reaches down and pats Adam’s head. A clock above Shakespeare turns fast as the night progresses (Clock sounds cukoo three times). 

ADAM (In his sleep)

Mmmm… Macbeth…your Banquo troubling me.

(Dim lights turn into flickering lights, causing minor supernatural disturbances in the room, like objects moving on their own or strange noises.

Shakespeare jumps out of his portrait. He looks around in remembrance of his beloved home before he sees Adam uncontrollably snoring. He goes and begins to shake him.)

SHAKESPEARE

Waketh up, Adam.

(Still no response. It’s the last straw; Shakespeare goes over and pushes Adam out of bed.)

SHAKESPEARE (Cont.)

WAKE UP!!!

(Adam wakes up and is shocked to see Shakespeare.)

ADAM

Shakespeare?

SHAKESPEARE

I am not Shakespeare, f'r I am the apparition of William Shakespeare.

ADAM

Wait… what’s an apparition?

SHAKESPEARE

S’riously, thee knoweth not what an apparition is?

(Adam shakes his head, causing Shakespeare to just give up.)

SHAKESPEARE

Okay you know what, oh I had to change my slage to modern age one. Screw this. I thought using a poetic style would make the world more intelligent today, but after seeing such ridiculous creations such as memes, selfies, and even text abbreviations like TTYL, OMG, LOL. I don’t even know what WTF means, and yet it’s everywhere. You know, I’ve had to deal with tourists and families who’ve lived here before you that have never even heard of my plays. OMG people know who the Kardashians are, but not William Shakespeare’s works? F these lives. It’s a tragedy I tell you. And for your information, an apparition is a ghost. I am the ghost of Shakespeare. You should’ve learned that from Hamlet easily. 

ADAM

Well I’m sorry y’know. It’s just that there’s so many stories that you write and it’s so hard to understand what you even mean sometimes from your language.

SHAKESPEARE

It’s why footnotes do exist, or you can just use the translated version of course. Haven’t you seen the board outside my house – ‘No Fear Shakespeare’? I wake up when someone magically sleeps in this bed, and every encounter I’ve had, I’ve sent them into cardiac arrest or have given them a reason to try out therapy. Now that thou art found, I may liberate thou, I and them, to set us all free from this gloomy place.

ADAM

But it’s your home.

SHAKESPEARE

Yes, and now look at who inhabits it. I thought girls screaming about One Direction was rough, but then there’s you talking in your sleep about sparkling pants, and that’s when I realize that the world has truly lost it. Do you still even care about Global Warming or Pollution?

(Adam thinks for a moment, scratches head.)

SHAKESPEARE (Cont.)

Don’t even answer that. Listen though. I need you to write something extraordinary. Something that people will remember for the ages. 

(A black shadow character comes up from the audience and passes through adam, Adam is engrossed talking to Shakespear) 

SHAKESPEARE

(To Shadow) Shh shhhh … Wait, am talking to him. ( Then turns to Adam) Ignore her.. she is Lady Ann..wife of Richard 3, (to ghost- don’t flirt… his wife Eva can haunt you worst than you can) (To Adam) ok what if you write a crossover of every ghost character I’ve put on paper, including myself. My creations and I have been trapped as ghosts for centuries, my ghost characters all here (moves closer to audience) around you.. in this room (looks back at Adam), I want to revive my unfinished manuscript to co-write with a human who could free them up from this trap, I could never write a play giving my ghost characters a centre stage, which after I became ghost, am realizing! The only way is by putting their story on paper for a best-selling classic, presented in this era by humans who will then be super humans.

ADAM

You mean every ghost character from your stories be given central characterizations, centre stage? Interesting as rest are beaten..mmm I mean written to death but ghost can not be beaten to……yeah am getting what you trying to do… 

Scene 3: Drums noise on stage, scene is set to get the 3 ghost characters appear as characters now on stage.

(*TWIST#4 VISUAL SPECTACLE OF HORROR,SURPRISE*)

SHAKESPEARE

Look around you, Adam. They’ve been there in most of my stories. From Banquo of Macbeth, ghost of Hamlet’s father, Lady Anne, Wife of Richard III, Julius and Caesar to Henry and Edward, You name them, seen or unseen, they are all here. 

(Hearing these names, one by one three ghost characters will appear unexpectedly from middle, right and left sections of the audience seating to take audience by a complete surprise and thrill. Ghost characters will pass through Adam and stand in different places of the stage for this act.)

ADAM

(in trembling voice) They’re here. You wrote many but I see only 3. Why so little? Shouldn’t there be momre here?

SHAKESPEARE

Shhhh Don’t say that out loud! There should be, but that’s what happens when you’re on a low budget, its my home production after centuries, thou must understand this nobleman!

ADAM

(One ghost character will light a bulb on Adam’s head like lighting Adam’s brain bulb)

So let me get this straight: if EVA and I write a classic about your every ghost character you’ve created, we can deliver the biggest crossover as no one thought of it till date, you’ll all be set free? And us will be this centuries shakespears!

SHAKESPEARE

These spectral apparitions hast been plaguing me for centuries, vexed that I did not bestow upon them the foremost roles in mine own theatrical productions. Methinks they doth protest too much.

                     GHOST (King of Hamlet) 

Yeah mate. Compared to thy spooky underworld realm, our ghostly career hath been more a flop than a fright(says getting bit aggressive to Adam.

ADAM

Ooh got it…I usually forget things when I dream or when I see an appppppparition (shakespear helps Adam in pronouncing). I really need to write this down. 

(Ghost characters jumping with joy leave the stage temporarily). 

Scene 4: laptop, song, Shakespear and Adam in action

(*ENTERTAINING BANTERS- MODERN VS ANCIENT*)

SHAKESPEARE

Hast thou a notebook in one of the boxes?

(Adam thinks for a moment until another light bulb glows above his head by another ghost.)

ADAM

Wait. I have an apple. One moment.

(He jumps out of bed and digs into one of the boxes to pull out a laptop. He hands it over to Shakespeare.)

ADAM (Cont.)

Here. Use Google docs.

SHAKESPEARE

Thou kidding jest? Man’s obsession with Apple and Google? Keeing doctors away and Psychiatrists busy, they are on strike now. No paper or quill at my disposal?

                    ADAM

(Adam sings in shape of you tone, dancing with all ghosts and teaching Shakespear to write on laptop and Shakespear shown writing in this act while song is on. While Adam sings this Shakespear and Ghosts on Apple laptop writing. Same time Eva is woken up by Richard 3 wife ghost to dance)

Boy, you know I want your wordsYour art was handmade for somebody like meCome on now, follow my tweetSir Willy, let's not talk too muchGrab on my hand and put that writing on this

Come on now, follow my needCome on I follow your lead…

Am in love with the plays of you, like a macbeth in MacBook you (points to audience). Eva falls back to sleep in joy and excitement.

                   SHAKESPEAR

Seeth mine own charm (pats at Adam scratching head) See my magic!Its DONE! Here are these 108 pages manuscript, a must tell tale to thy world.

Shakespear has already written transcripts superfast on laptop. Shakespeare hands the laptop back.)

ADAM

Whoa. Thank you so much Mr. Shakespeare. What a brilliant brilliant manuscript already for us to pull it off like a Romeo Steve Adam or Juliet Eva.

SHAKESPEARE

Shouldst thou not be awake in sleep any more? 

By the way I appear only once in lifetime in a  chosen p'rson’s dream from mankind species, make the most of it my lad! If you want to find me again, remember- all the answers lie in the Book of Knowledge. Eat that fruit of knowledge but not the forbidden kind. Fare Thee Well and Good Night!

ADAM

We won’t let you down Willy Sir! Best night to you too Sir!

(Adam kisses Shakespear’s hands, Lady Ann ghosts will extend the hand to Adam but Adam shies away and bows down to all the team)

(He runs to bed and begins to go back to sleep. Shakespeare jumps back in the portrait (same background music plays. Lighs turned off) 

Scene 5: Adam and Eva’s next morning of many twists and turns 

(Adam is asleep and it’s already morning. Adam gets up all excited. Lights turned on)

ADAM

Honey! I’ve had the craziest dream!

(EVA comes in with a tray of juice and some biscuits.)

EVA

Well good morning to you, Well, I woke up early and heard all the myth math story of Shakespear’s ghost and his ghost friends from the hotel manager. The fact that rarest of rare get a chance to meet them here through a dream..omg, pinch me honey. I think, I too met him, I was dancing with joy but could not hold my excitement and fell asleep early.

ADAM

(Pinching, jumping and kissing Eva)

I have goosebumps, like I’m dancing in air without feet! I met in my dreams HIM…none other than the ghost of William Shakespeare himself last night, and he gave me this brilliant idea. 

Move aside, sparkling vampires and tights! Picture this: a play that unites every ghostly character from Shakespeare's works, placing them center stage as the leads.

EVA

You mean ghost of Shakespear telling you to write about ghost of Julius Caesar, Banquo of Macbeth? Wow..!

ADAM

Not just that, but every Shakespear’s ghost character from comedy to tragedy, all into this one greatest crossover never created before. This could be the gateway to our success. Shakespear started with its manuscript in full 108 pages that he wrote in our laptop! Hey we must use that else the flop over fright will continue to haunt..(looks at Eva) our careers. Let me show you (Trying to open the laptop but Eva stops him to first celebrate)..

EVA

Oh my my what a Ghostly ghastly, a ghostsome masterstroke.. Time to celebrate!

(She hands him a glass of juice, making a toast to cheer.)

EVA

To success.

ADAM

And all the glory in the world.

(They tap their glasses and drink the juice first keeping first the laptop aside. They eat a bite of apple too in the tray)

EVA

It’s going to be a night to remember. Honey, wait I will be back. (Eva goes to a corner and seen on call with someone, no dialogues, shown laughing, talking in excitement with hand gestures) 

(A few moments later, the two get back to sofa to see the script)

EVA

Can’t wait to see what’s its like co-writing with none other than the legend of writing. The lord Shakespear! 

ADAM

I’ll pull it up. Comon my Lappy showed me this golden manuscript, blessings by the father of all the manuscripts of all time!

(They are smiling in excitement. Adam grabs the laptop and begins to look. Seconds later, his face turns into complete horror and shock…an apply comes flying on to their laps scaring them)

ADAM

Holy Shakespear… honey… it’s not there. 

(*TWISTS#5 – LOOSING OUT ON LOST STORY*)

EVA

Wait what do you mean it’s not there?

(Adam hands her over the laptop, where she has the same shocked face.)

EVA (Cont.)

That’s literally some 108 blank pages right there. What did you do? Were you dreaming?

ADAM

I swear to God I saw fully written 108 pages written by sir Willy.

EVA

No no no.. what went wrong? Lets recall well. Wait, lets look through journal…the notes to find any clue how to retrieve it. (Reads through journal)..

ADAM

I slept over with this manuscript and in the morning, I wanted to show you the story scribbled.  We got excited, and then we ate a biscuit and drank some juice. Wait… what kind of juice did you give me?

EVA

It was something a serpent seller tempted me to try out. He gave me this juice claiming this is from the tree of knowledge about good and evil, they call it Apple Juice from Garden of Edens (Eva points out to empty bottle of juice) 

ADAM

Wait. Apple Juice? And we gave in to this temptation! Oh no wait..

(He turns the laptop over to see the iconic Apple sign with the signature bite.)

Adam sets down the journal and reaches for his laptop, an Apple MacBook, to cross-reference the cryptic messages. As he opens it, Eva notices a bowl of apples on the table, fresh and tempting.)

EVA

Look, Adam, those apples... They weren't here before. (Stage lights flickers)

(Adam, distracted, begins speaking to his right, where Eva is not standing)- 

(*TWISTS#6 – SPOOKY ELEMENTS*)

ADAM

Forget apple, that must be Shakespear’s and his ghosts’ fruit of knowledge breakfast. Find the way to the manuscript! 

EVA

Adam, I'm right here.(Standng at other side of Adam).

(A mischievous laugh echoes through the room, sending shivers down their spines.)

LADY ANN (GHOST) 

(Picks up and throws one apple to the audience

Hehehe... The forbidden fruit has been tasted. What is sought shall be lost...

EVA

(To herself, stressed. Spirits are right here.. What must be forbidden must not be told. (to Adam) Adam, I feel so guilty...

ADAM

(confused) Guilty? About what?

EVA

(*TWISTS#7 – A SECRET REVEAL *)

I…(shaking) I had actually spoken about it with the hotel manager after excitement of last night encounters, I boasted that we were the chosen couple who met Shakespeare's ghost. 

Ifell into the trap of greed… I  asked them to call the media, I thought of becoming stars overnight, I sent WA msgs to many..s… did it for the greed of short fame, without focusing on Shakespeare's works first. That's why we lost everything.

LADY ANN GHOST

(*TWISTS#8 – SPOOKY ELEMENTS*)

Eerie voice to the audience) Wives... thy name is gossip. Your wagging tongues spread rumors far and wide, Hehehe...

(The room falls silent, the weight of their realization sinking in.)

ADAM

You shouldn’t have Eva.

ADAM (Cont. howling and crying, reading the clues),

We drank the forbidden fruit juice, we got bitten by the apple myth again in this era..My name had an Adam with Steve, your name had an Eve..Eva…did you realize( points out to Apple icon in the laptop). Shakespear said he chooses one in millions from humankinds to appear in their dreams. Now leaving us mortals with blank pages…

(Both of them stay frozen in shock. Spotlight shifts to Shakespear)

GHOST VOICE

(Eerie Voice again to the audience) 

And Wives... though your wagging tongues spread rumors far and wide (repeat line), In direst straits, a loyal wife's your only guiding tide.

EVA

(*TWISTS#9 – CLUES, DECODING CODES*)

Adam, I think we should look at these crumpled papers messages. I’m trying It seems the answer to all our problem lies here only…

ADAM

 (curious)Yes that’s what Shakespear said I recall. These messages seem to hint at some ancient myths.

EVA

Exactly, decoding these myths…clue to crack the answer to our problems must be all here. Let's gather all the crumpled notes we tossed into the bin earlier.

ADAM

Alright, let's find them.

(They retrieve the crumpled notes from the bin and spread them out on a table. They begin reading the notes aloud, piecing together the clues.)

EVA

(Reading)“The pen is mightier than the sword." Hmm…meaning the power of writing is sharper than swords.. imagine the masterpiece penned by shakespear …oh god help us find it.

ADAM

(Reading another note) "Answer lies in the book of knowledge…(another note says_ “Eat the fruit of Knowledge.."

EVA

(reading the next note) "The Key to Opportunity]..Hey I think a Key is a Key here- May be the answer lies in some Key here, unlocking the knowledge of fruit which is forbidden by key… we can unlock it.. Pen is mightier than sword… it means the manuscript perhaps by Shakespear which is powerful is a no brainer clue.

ADAM

(Thinking) The key! What if it's related to the laptop?

(Excited) May be the manuscript is locked in some key folders there. Or encrypted with a key. But how will we decrypt it? Lets check first.

Adam quickly opens the laptop, scrolling through the files. Suddenly, he finds a hidden folder named "Key to Opportunity." Inside, they discover a document.)

EVA

(Smiling) This is the one Adam…but this is encrypted .. wait wait… there is password folder….

(*TWISTS#10 – BIG REVEAL*)

ADAM

Password is I Z A A R A 9852797. (types it but folder does not open)

EVA

Wait shall we call this number? (She dials and gets connected to someone) 

VOICE ON PHONE

Hi this is IZAARA Productions. How can I help you?

ADAM

Hi, um...I’am adam, am calling from Shakespear cottage at , we found your number to connect…

VOICE ON PHONE

(Interrupts Adam midway)Oh Hi Mr Adam, How lovely to hear form you. We wanted to contact you but didn’t have your number, you sent us a gem yesterday midnight we received this special manuscript which we must say is a masterpiece Adam and Eve, was it from you both?

EVA

(Excitedly)Ye ye yeah yeah.. omg (controlling her excitement) , yes.. We were working on it last night.How could you decrypt it.

IZAARA VOICE ON PHONE

Well darling, we had been decoding, decrypting all the masterpieces of ancient mystical stories for years now. Your manuscript reached just the right place.  Let me just say, we were blown away by what we read. The fusion of Shakespearean prose with your modern sensibilities is nothing short of brilliance. We'd love to collaborate with you on a new mythological show we're developing. It seems you two have a knack for storytelling.

ADAM

(Thrilled)Wow, that's incredible! We'd be honored to work with IZAARA Productions.

IZAARA VOICE ON PHONE

Excellent! We'll send you all the details shortly. Get ready for an adventure unlike any other.

(As the call ends, Adam and Eva exchange excited glances, thrilled by the unexpected opportunity.)

EVA

Woohooo …pinch me adam what we heard is true.

Looks like Shakespear did his job for our lives! He sent the manuscript to the right place! Genius! 

ADAM

(screams) Thank you Shakespear…. Thank you Shakespear’s Ghosts! We want to hug you tight, RIGHT NOW, RIGHT HERE! 

(That’s it. Adam didn’t realize that he invoked ghosts again, Ghost Lady Ann, wife of Richard III suddenly materializes on stage, comes running and gives them a scary hug)

(*TWISTS#11 – HAUNTINGS HAVE RETURNED*)

GHOST- LADY ANNE

We are no longer bound by the chains of our past. Thanks to your unwitting release, we are free to roam the world once more. HEHEHEHE.

(Ghost cackles menacingly, Eva shivers, backing away in fear)

EVA

But... what do you want from us?

GHOST- LADY ANNE

We want what is rightfully ours... a place in your world. The myths must hold true... ghosts must coexist with humans.

(Adam and Eve exchange uncertain glances, unsure of what to make of the ghosts' words.)

ADAM

Nervously) I I didn’t know the ghost women are so easy to please, human lady will take years to hug… 

(The dark ghost entity begins to speak, its voice echoing ominously through the room.)

GHOST- LADY ANNE

With a sinister chuckle)Hehehe... You have awoken us from our slumber, mortals. We choose to live with you.

ADAM

But... why us? 

GHOST- LADY ANNE

We choose you as you released us from this centuries old trap.. We will stay with you forever….. hehehe. 

(Adam and Eve exchange terrified glances, flipping through a journal, looking for clues to come out of the situation) 

Scene 6: Shakespeare’s closing monologue 

(Smoke fills the stage, and Shakespeare's ghost materializes in the center. Adam and Eva freeze, staring at the journal.)

–*MONOLOGUE - TO BE OR  NOT TO BE *)

SHAKESPEARE (to the audience)

Another act, another tale of humanity completes the same saga. Mankind dismisses mystical wisdom as mere myths. But the truth lies in the depths of these ancient tales. Fear not, mortals. The key to unlocking the mysteries of the past lies in the wisdom of the ancients.

Humans and ghosts all are trapped, thy lost souls must unlock your true potential, locked in these wicked curses of such traps.

Each Eve and Adam in you holds the power to weave anew, to fashion your own epics, to give birth to a Shakespeare within you. Use your wit and valor to bring your dreams to life. Until then, the question lingers.

              GHOST 1(comes to left of Shakespear)

                  TO BE 

        GHOST 2 (comes to right to Shakespear)

               OR NOT TO BE 

SHAKESPEARE 

(comes forward in the middle, opens hands to the audience)

Trio posed for the picture-perfect shot. Some Ghost Chuckles heard from audience.