Barnyard Hamlet

Enter Barnardo, Francisco, Horatio and Marcellus.

Barnardo: Who’s there?

Francisco: Barnardo

Horatio: friends to this ground.

Marcellus:  I have entreated him along with us to watch the minutes of this night, that if again this apparition come he may approve our eyes and speak to it.

Enter Ghost

Barnardo: In the same figure like the king’s that’s dead.

Horatio:  By heaven, I charge thee, speak. If thou art privy to thy country’s fate, which happily foreknowing may avoid, Oh, speak!

Exit ghost

MARCELLUS: It faded on the crowing of the cock.

 Horato: in the gross and scope of mine opinion, this bodes some strange eruption to our state.

Exit all.

Enter Claudius, Gertrude, Hamlet, Voltemand, Cornelius, Polonius, Laertes, and Ophelia.

Claudius: we have here writ to Norway, uncle of young Fortinbras- The lists, and full proportions are all made out of his subject; and we here dispatch you, good Cornelius, and you, Voltemand, for bearers of this greeting to old Norway.

CORNELIUS, VOLTEMAND: In that and all things will we show our duty.

Claudius: And now, Laertes, what’s the news with you?

Laertes:  I came to Denmark to show my duty in your coronation yet now My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France.

POLONIUS: He hath, my lord, wrung from me my slow leave by laborsome petition. 

CLAUDIUS: Take thy fair hour, Laertes But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son—

HAMLET: (aside) A little more than kin and less than kind.

GERTRUDE: Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted color off, and let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark. All that lives must die, passing through nature to eternity. Why seems it so particular with thee?

Hamlet:'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother, No, nor the fruitful river in the eye, Nor the dejected 'havior of the visage, That can denote me truly.

Claudius:  'Tis unmanly grief. We pray you, throw to earth. This unprevailing woe, and think of us

As of a father.  For your intent In going back to school in Wittenberg, It is most retrograde to our desire.

Gertrude: Go not to Wittenberg.

HAMLET: I shall in all my best obey you, madam.

Exit all but Hamlet.

Hamlet: two months dead—nay, not so much, not two. So excellent a king, that was to this

Hyperion to a satyr. My father’s brother, but no more like my father Than I to Hercules.  But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue.

Enter Horatio, Marcellus, and Barnardo.

HORATIO: My lord, I think I saw him yesternight.

HAMLET: The king my father?!

Horatio: Two nights together had these gentleman Been thus encountered: a figure like your father, Thrice he walked

HAMLET: I would I had been there.

HORATIO: It would have much amazed you.

HAMLET: I will watch tonight. Perchance 'Twill walk again.

Exit all but Hamlet.

Hamlet:  All is not well. I doubt some foul play. Would the night were come!

Exit.

Cast of Animals
Hamlet - would appear as a horse because as the main character, he needs to appear strong and sturdy, yet the news of his fathers' ghost troubles him, revealing a weaker side. This is like a horse which are very strong animals but are also quite weak when injuries arise.
Horatio - Would appear as an owl because owls are seen as wise, and he is called upon by Marcellus to help discover what the ghost wants, and he also says for them to tell Hamlet. He makes decisions for the group, and is their spokesperson, and who they call on for assistance.
Barnardo, Francisco, and Marcellus - would all appear as sheep because they are all somewhat helpless and follow the lead of Horatio, as well as look to him for guidance and help.
Claudius - would appear as a cat, because he is sneaky, just as cats are portrayed. Although we cannot tell just yet what he has done or is up to, you can tell in his demeanor and tone that something is amiss.
Gertrude - would appear as a goose because she is not very bright and is unaware that something has gone amiss with her new husband and her old one.
Ophelia - would appear as a pig because Hamlet has ignored her since their breakup (he doesn't even say anything to her when she enters into the scene). Many people use pig as a derogatory word for someone, and Hamlet has been unkind to her, so her being a pig would be fitting.
Polonius and Laertes - would both appear as goats because cows because although they may seem dull or not useful, they actually are very useful, just like a cow. Laertes proves this by choosing to leave and go to school.
Ghost of King Hamlet - would appear as a dog because he was a good, noble king, father, and husband, jsut as dogs are seen as great animals and man's best friend.