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Classics Now Feb 13, 02:30 AM

Hamlet's Mousetrap: The Group Chat That Broke a Kingdom

Classics in Modern Setting

A modern reimagining of Β«HamletΒ» by William Shakespeare

πŸ“± WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT: "Elsinore Fam πŸ‘‘πŸ°"

Members: Hamlet πŸ–€, Claudius πŸ‘‘, Gertrude πŸ’…, Ophelia 🌸, Horatio 🧠, Polonius πŸ§“, Rosencrantz 🀑, Guildenstern πŸƒ

---

**Claudius πŸ‘‘** created the group "Elsinore Fam πŸ‘‘πŸ°"

**Claudius πŸ‘‘** added Hamlet πŸ–€, Gertrude πŸ’…, Ophelia 🌸, Horatio 🧠, Polonius πŸ§“, Rosencrantz 🀑, Guildenstern πŸƒ

**Claudius πŸ‘‘:** Hey everyone! πŸŽ‰ Just a reminder that tonight's entertainment will be a lovely play organized by our dear nephew/son Hamlet! Dress code: royal casual. Starts at 8pm in the Great Hall. See you there! 🎭❀️

**Gertrude πŸ’…:** Wonderful darling! So proud of Hamlet for finally showing interest in something other than wearing black and staring at walls πŸ₯°

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** Thanks mom. Really appreciate the support. πŸ™ƒ

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** *stepmom

**Gertrude πŸ’…:** Hamlet.

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** What. You married my uncle two months after dad's funeral. I'm just being accurate.

**Polonius πŸ§“:** Let us all look forward to a wonderful evening of arts and culture! I myself was quite the thespian in my university days. Did I ever tell you about the time I played Julius Caesar?

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** Yeah you got killed in the Capitol. Brutal. πŸ’€

**Polonius πŸ§“:** It was a very acclaimed performance!

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** I'm sure it was. Bravo. πŸ‘

---

πŸ’¬ PRIVATE CHAT: Hamlet πŸ–€ β†’ Horatio 🧠

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** bro

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** tonight's the night

**Horatio 🧠:** You sure about this plan?

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** 100%

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** I rewrote parts of the play so it basically shows exactly how my dad was murdered

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** poison in the ear while sleeping in the garden

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** then the murderer marries the queen

**Horatio 🧠:** That's... not subtle at all

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** it's called ART, Horatio

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** I need you to watch Claudius's face the ENTIRE time. Don't blink. Don't check your phone. WATCH HIM.

**Horatio 🧠:** What am I looking for exactly?

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** guilt

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** panic

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** maybe sweating

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** basically any reaction that screams "I DEFINITELY MURDERED MY BROTHER"

**Horatio 🧠:** And if he doesn't react?

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** then I guess the ghost of my dead father was lying and I've been having a mental breakdown for nothing 🀷

**Horatio 🧠:** Cool cool cool cool cool. Normal Tuesday.

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** the play is called "The Mousetrap" btw 🐭πŸͺ€

**Horatio 🧠:** Why

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** because we're catching a RAT πŸ€πŸ‘‘

**Horatio 🧠:** I'm going to pretend that wasn't incredibly corny

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** just watch his face bro. That's all I need.

**Horatio 🧠:** I got you. Always.

---

πŸ’¬ PRIVATE CHAT: Rosencrantz 🀑 β†’ Guildenstern πŸƒ

**Rosencrantz 🀑:** dude did hamlet seem weird to you today

**Guildenstern πŸƒ:** hamlet seems weird every day

**Rosencrantz 🀑:** yeah but like EXTRA weird

**Rosencrantz 🀑:** he was practically skipping around the Great Hall humming to himself

**Guildenstern πŸƒ:** maybe he's actually happy for once?

**Rosencrantz 🀑:** that's what worries me

**Guildenstern πŸƒ:** should we tell the king?

**Rosencrantz 🀑:** tell him what? "Your nephew is suspiciously cheerful"?

**Guildenstern πŸƒ:** fair point

**Rosencrantz 🀑:** let's just go to the play and keep our mouths shut

**Guildenstern πŸƒ:** that's literally always our best strategy

---

πŸ“± GROUP CHAT: "Elsinore Fam πŸ‘‘πŸ°"

⏰ 7:45 PM

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** Everyone almost here? Show starts in 15! 🎭

**Ophelia 🌸:** I'm here! Got a great seat 😊

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** Ophelia! Come sit by me 😏

**Ophelia 🌸:** Um ok?

**Polonius πŸ§“:** Ophelia, remember what we discussed.

**Ophelia 🌸:** Dad please don't do this in the group chat 😩

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** Don't worry Ophelia, I'll be on my best behavior

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** Or my worst. Depends on the scene 😈

**Gertrude πŸ’…:** Hamlet come sit with me!

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** No thanks mom I'd rather sit with someone who hasn't made questionable life decisions in the last 3 months

**Claudius πŸ‘‘:** 😐

**Gertrude πŸ’…:** 😐

**Polonius πŸ§“:** 😬

---

⏰ 8:02 PM - Play begins

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** 🎭 SHOWTIME 🎭

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** This first part is a dumb show - no words just acting. Watch closely everyone!!

**Ophelia 🌸:** What's happening? A king and queen are being very affectionate?

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** Yeah they're super in love. Cute right? πŸ₯°

**Ophelia 🌸:** Oh wait now the king is lying down in a garden...

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** He's taking a nap. Classic king stuff.

**Ophelia 🌸:** And someone is pouring something in his ear??? 😨

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** Interesting plot twist wouldn't you say?? πŸ€”

---

πŸ’¬ PRIVATE CHAT: Hamlet πŸ–€ β†’ Horatio 🧠

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** STATUS REPORT. WHAT'S HIS FACE DOING

**Horatio 🧠:** He shifted in his seat during the poison scene

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** SHIFTED? LIKE UNCOMFORTABLE SHIFTED?

**Horatio 🧠:** Could also be the chair. Those things are hard.

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** IT'S NOT THE CHAIR HORATIO

**Horatio 🧠:** Just reporting what I see. Keeping watch.

---

πŸ“± GROUP CHAT: "Elsinore Fam πŸ‘‘πŸ°"

**Claudius πŸ‘‘:** Interesting choice of play, Hamlet. What's it called?

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** "The Mousetrap" 🐭

**Claudius πŸ‘‘:** And the plot is...?

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** Oh you know. A king gets murdered by his nephew in Vienna. The nephew pours poison in the king's ear while he sleeps. Then the nephew seduces the queen and takes the throne. Standard European drama. πŸ‡¦πŸ‡Ή

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** Totally fictional though

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** Obviously

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** Why do you ask? πŸ™‚

**Claudius πŸ‘‘:** No reason.

**Gertrude πŸ’…:** The actress playing the queen is a bit over the top with her promises. "I'll never remarry! I'll be loyal forever!" A bit much, no?

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** Idk mom. Do YOU think it's too much? Do those promises mean something to you? πŸ€”πŸ€”πŸ€”

**Gertrude πŸ’…:** The lady doth protest too much, methinks.

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** WOW WHAT A LINE. Someone write that down. πŸ“

---

**Ophelia 🌸:** Hamlet you're being really weird tonight

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** Am I? Or is the play just making everyone UNCOMFORTABLE because it hits a little too close to HOME? 🏠πŸ”₯

**Ophelia 🌸:** I think you're just being weird

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** Fair

---

⏰ 8:28 PM - THE KEY SCENE

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** OK EVERYONE PAY ATTENTION

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** This is the part where Lucianus - the king's nephew - approaches the sleeping king

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** He's got a vial of poison...

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** He's leaning in...

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** 🎭 "Thoughts black, hands apt, drugs fit, and time agreeing" 🎭

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** AND HE POURS THE POISON IN THE KING'S EAR!!! πŸ‘‚β˜ οΈπŸ’€

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** JUST LIKE SOMEONE WE KNOW MIGHT HAVE DONE, RIGHT @Claudius πŸ‘‘ ???

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** @Claudius πŸ‘‘ you good bro? You look a little pale 😏

---

**Claudius πŸ‘‘:** πŸ”¦

**Claudius πŸ‘‘:** GIVE ME SOME LIGHT

**Claudius πŸ‘‘:** LIGHTS

**Claudius πŸ‘‘:** TURN ON THE LIGHTS

*Claudius πŸ‘‘ has left the group*

---

**Polonius πŸ§“:** The king is unwell! Stop the play! Everyone stop!

**Gertrude πŸ’…:** What just happened??

**Rosencrantz 🀑:** uhhhhh

**Guildenstern πŸƒ:** that was intense

**Ophelia 🌸:** Is the king okay?? He literally ran out screaming??

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** Interesting reaction to a FICTIONAL PLAY, don't you think? πŸ€”πŸ€”πŸ€”πŸ€”πŸ€”

---

πŸ’¬ PRIVATE CHAT: Hamlet πŸ–€ β†’ Horatio 🧠

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** DID YOU SEE THAT

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** DID

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** YOU

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** SEE

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** THAT

**Horatio 🧠:** I saw it.

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** HE RAN. HE LITERALLY RAN OUT OF THE ROOM.

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** SCREAMING FOR LIGHTS.

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** DURING THE EXACT SCENE WHERE THE KING GETS POISONED THROUGH HIS EAR.

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** WHICH IS EXACTLY HOW THE GHOST SAID IT HAPPENED.

**Horatio 🧠:** Yeah. That was... not the reaction of an innocent man.

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** HORATIO

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** I WOULD BET A THOUSAND POUNDS ON THE GHOST'S WORD

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** THE MOUSETRAP WORKED 🐭πŸͺ€βœ…

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** WE CAUGHT THE RAT πŸ€πŸ‘‘

**Horatio 🧠:** So what now?

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** ...

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** honestly I didn't plan this far ahead

**Horatio 🧠:** You orchestrated an elaborate theatrical sting operation to confirm your uncle murdered your father and you didn't think about WHAT COMES NEXT?

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** Look the play thing took a lot of creative energy ok

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** I had to rewrite dialogue and direct actors and do a whole dramatic commentary

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** I'm EXHAUSTED

**Horatio 🧠:** Hamlet. Your uncle, the KING, just realized you KNOW he's a murderer.

**Horatio 🧠:** You are in danger.

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** right

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** yeah that's

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** that's a good point actually

**Horatio 🧠:** 🀦

---

πŸ“± GROUP CHAT: "Elsinore Fam πŸ‘‘πŸ°"

**Rosencrantz 🀑:** Hey Hamlet, the king is really upset. Maybe you should go talk to him?

**Guildenstern πŸƒ:** Yeah the queen wants to see you too

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** Tell me something. Do you guys actually care about me or did Claudius send you to spy on me?

**Rosencrantz 🀑:** What?? We're your friends!

**Guildenstern πŸƒ:** Yeah totally just friends checking in!

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** You know what you remind me of? A recorder. 🎡

**Rosencrantz 🀑:** A what?

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** A recorder. Simple instrument. Anyone can play it. You just cover the holes and blow, and it makes whatever sound the player wants.

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** Claudius is playing you like recorders.

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** You think you can play ME? Figure out my stops? Pluck out the heart of my mystery?

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** You can't even play a recorder and you think you can play ME? 🎡🚫

**Guildenstern πŸƒ:** That was weirdly specific

**Rosencrantz 🀑:** And kind of hurtful tbh

---

**Polonius πŸ§“:** Hamlet, your mother would like to speak with you in her chambers. Immediately.

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** My mother. Right. πŸ™„

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** I'll go. But I'll be honest with her. I'll speak daggers but use none.

**Polonius πŸ§“:** Please be gentle with her, she's very distressed.

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** Whose fault is that πŸ€”

---

πŸ’¬ PRIVATE CHAT: Hamlet πŸ–€ β†’ Horatio 🧠

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** Mom wants to see me. This is gonna be fun.

**Horatio 🧠:** Please don't do anything rash.

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** Me? Rash? When have I EVER been rash?

**Horatio 🧠:** Do you want the list chronologically or alphabetically?

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** 😀

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** Fine. I'll be careful.

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** But the ghost was right, Horatio. My father was murdered. By his own brother. And my mother married the murderer.

**Horatio 🧠:** I know. And I'm sorry.

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** "The play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king." And we DID. We absolutely did. 🎭

**Horatio 🧠:** Just... be safe tonight. The walls have ears in Elsinore.

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** Ironic choice of words considering how my dad died πŸ‘‚β˜ οΈ

**Horatio 🧠:** Oh god I didn't meanβ€”

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** Too soon? It's been like 4 months

**Horatio 🧠:** DEFINITELY too soon

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** lol

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** ok heading to mom's room. If I don't text back in an hour send help

**Horatio 🧠:** Please tell me you're joking

**Hamlet πŸ–€:** 50/50 πŸ™ƒ

*Hamlet πŸ–€ is typing...*

*Hamlet πŸ–€ went offline*

---

πŸ’¬ PRIVATE CHAT: Claudius πŸ‘‘ β†’ Polonius πŸ§“

**Claudius πŸ‘‘:** He knows.

**Polonius πŸ§“:** My lord?

**Claudius πŸ‘‘:** That play. That wasn't about Vienna. That was about ME.

**Polonius πŸ§“:** Surely it was just a coincidenceβ€”

**Claudius πŸ‘‘:** A king murdered by poison in his EAR, Polonius. In his EAR. While sleeping in a GARDEN.

**Claudius πŸ‘‘:** And then the murderer marries the queen.

**Claudius πŸ‘‘:** And Hamlet was NARRATING it. Looking right at me. SMILING.

**Polonius πŸ§“:** ...Oh.

**Claudius πŸ‘‘:** Yes. "Oh."

**Claudius πŸ‘‘:** I need to deal with this. He's dangerous.

**Polonius πŸ§“:** Let me hide behind the curtain in the queen's chambers when she talks to him. I'll report everything back to you.

**Claudius πŸ‘‘:** Fine. Do that.

**Polonius πŸ§“:** I'll be perfectly hidden. Nothing could possibly go wrong.

**Claudius πŸ‘‘:** Good. Go now.

---

πŸ“± GROUP CHAT: "Elsinore Fam πŸ‘‘πŸ°"

⏰ 9:15 PM

**Ophelia 🌸:** Is anyone going to explain what just happened tonight or are we all just pretending the king didn't sprint out of his own theater screaming for lights??

**Rosencrantz 🀑:** I think we're pretending

**Guildenstern πŸƒ:** Definitely pretending

**Ophelia 🌸:** Cool. Cool cool cool. Everything is FINE at Elsinore. 🏰πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯

**Ophelia 🌸:** This is fine. πŸ•β˜•πŸ”₯

**Horatio 🧠:** For what it's worth, I don't think anything is fine.

**Ophelia 🌸:** THANK YOU Horatio. At least ONE person here is honest.

**Ophelia 🌸:** My boyfriend is acting insane, my dad is hiding behind curtains, the king ran away from a play, and the queen is "distressed"

**Ophelia 🌸:** I should have gone to a convent like Hamlet suggested honestly

**Horatio 🧠:** He said that?

**Ophelia 🌸:** "Get thee to a nunnery" was the exact quote

**Horatio 🧠:** Yikes.

**Ophelia 🌸:** YIKES INDEED

**Ophelia 🌸:** Anyway goodnight everyone. I'm going to go arrange some flowers and try not to think about how this royal family is a complete dumpster fire 🌸πŸ”₯

**Rosencrantz 🀑:** Goodnight Ophelia!

**Guildenstern πŸƒ:** Night! πŸ‘‹

**Horatio 🧠:** Stay safe, everyone. I have a feeling tonight is going to be... eventful.

---

πŸ”” NOTIFICATION:
πŸ“° Elsinore Castle News Alert
"King Claudius cancels all theatrical performances indefinitely. No official statement given. Prince Hamlet unavailable for comment."

---

*Read by everyone at 9:22 PM* βœ“βœ“

---

[END OF CHAT LOG]

*Narrator's note: Things at Elsinore were about to get significantly worse. Polonius should not have hidden behind that curtain. But that's a group chat for another day.* πŸ’€πŸŽ­

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