So seeing as a week from tonight we’ll be performing Richard the Third in a bar/rock club/café/music hall with only 24 hours of rehearsal (see figure 1)…
figure 1
…we thought it only appropriate to take measures to ensure the audience is too drunk to notice any textual missteps or random theatrical inconsistencies. To that end, we have taken a moment from our panicked line memorization to create a Richard the Third Drinking Game. This document will evolve over time as inspiration (or desperation) hits, culminating in horribly rushed, typo-ridden copies being distributed at the venue.
RICHARD THE THIRD THE DRINKING THE GAME [sic] (R3DG)
GENERAL RULES
…Any mention of husbands, wives, or marriage, married people must drink.
…Any mention of God, Heaven, or such matters, all atheists must drink.
…Whene’er a Messenger enters, anyone looking at their phone or laptop must drink.
…At any mention of Saint Paul, anyone and everyone named Paul must drink.
…Any mention of the Tower or imprisonment, anybody who has ever been arrested must drink.
…Whene’er anyone makes a misogynistic comment, all men must drink.
…Whene’er anyone double-crosses another, drinks must be switched with the person next to you.
…Every time someone is killed, everyone must drink.CHARACTER RULES
Players shall each be assigned a character to follow; each character shall have a specific set of rules to be observed.RIVERS
Those players assigned to follow Rivers shall drink whene’er he…
…manages to get through a line without asking a question.
…is sickeningly deferential.
When Rivers is killed, the remainder of the drink shall be consumed. These players now follow DERBY.*DERBY
Only those players who had been following Rivers unto his death, or likewise latecomers who thus were not assigned a character, shall follow Lord Derby. They shall thenceforth drink whene’er he…
…uses an excessive number of personal pronouns; e.g. “Pray God, I say, I prove a needless coward!”
…delivers expository information.
…pledges his support to someone.
When Derby crowns Richmond King, all followers of Derby must rise and shout “HAIL RICHMOND!” If any follower of Richmond at their table is without a drink, a follower of Derby must offer theirs as substitute.CLARENCE
Those players assigned to follow Clarence shall drink whene’er he…
…talks about his brother. Or his other brother.
…happens to mention his royalty, or others’ lack of it.
When Clarence is killed, his followers must cry out in alarm, then finish their drink. These players now follow THE PRINCES.*THE PRINCES, EDWARD AND YORK
Only those players who followed Clarence until his brutal end shall follow these, the sons of King Edward. They shall, hereafter, drink whene’er one or both of them…
…offer discourse upon their stature.
…complain.
…mention any of their uncles.
Followers of the Princes are advised to take small drinks, as befit the children they present. Once receiving news of the Princes’ death, they must finish their drink without anyone else at the table witnessing, and thereafter follow RICHMOND.ELIZABETH
Those players assigned to follow Elizabeth shall drink whene’er she…
…wails, weeps, laments, or mentions wailing, weeping, or lamenting.
…speaks of her children.
…flees to sanctuary.
…prophesies doom.
When, at the end of Act IV, Elizabeth flees once more to sanctuary, abandoning her players, all those following her must now finish their drinks and swear allegiance to RICHMOND.BUCKINGHAM
Those players assigned to follow Buckingham shall drink whene’er he…
…says something negative.
…says he will follow/wait upon someone before exiting.
…dotes upon Richard.
…doubts upon Richard.
When Buckingham is killed, all drinks must be consumed. These players now must align with RICHMOND.*RICHMOND
Such players whose characters have abandoned them through untimely death or unseemly cowardice shall align, at last, with Richmond. Newly reborn as Tudors, these players shall drink whene’er Richmond…
…mentions his tent.
…makes a stirring speech to rally his troops/retainers/office supplies.
…insults Richard.
When Richmond is crowned King, all players must rise, shout “HAIL RICHMOND”, and finish their drink.
Feel free to leave more rule suggestions in the comments.
And by all means, come to The Southern on January 14th (at 8 or 11pm) and take part in the game yourself. Oh, and also see some Shakespeare performed by ridiculously brave, talented, sleepy people. Go, go, dispatch.
sara :: 7 January, 2010 9.43pm
this is basically the best thing ever. here’s mine here’s mine!!
Those players assigned to follow Elizabeth shall drink whene’er she…
…wails, weeps, laments, or mentions any of these activities.
…mentions her children.
…prophesies doom.
Those players assigned to follow The Young Princes (Edward and York) shall drink whene’er they…
…compare their heights.
…complain.
…mention any of their uncles.
When the princes’ murders are reported, all drinks must be consumed. These players will now follow Richmond.
(…Or maybe they should follow someone else. But I think it would be funny if at the end ALL the dead people end up following Richmond. And then the whole theater has to shout “HAIL RICHMOND!”)
You rock.
jonesy :: 7 January, 2010 10.42pm
I definitely wanted to use the Princes, and was contemplating Elizabeth as well, though I was going back and forth between her and Margaret. I’ll work up my ideas with yours and amend, probably in the next half hour (a reward, as I just got through 2-1).
And I love the idea that everyone ends up following Richmond and shouting. As this conflicted with the Rivers/Derby track, I have amended Derby’s endgame (which I wasn’t totally sold on anyway) so that everyone playing will hail the new king. Derby’s folks, tho, have to give up their drink if anyone is dry at the end.
In terms of practicality, I was thinking of just having slips of paper that serve as tickets that have the name of the initial follower on’t, and then having one or two printouts of the rules on the tables. Otherwise, it’ll end up taking up several pages. Or, I suppose, instead of folded program we could just do a standard letter sheet, cast & crew on one side, rules on the other. But now I run before my horse to market.
jonesy :: 8 January, 2010 12.49pm
Okay, updated the rules last night. There are now four “starter” characters, which is probably enough for now. Also, added the Messenger rule, so that whenever a Messenger enters, anyone checking their phone or laptop has to drink. I feel like we should, for comedy’s sake, have a few more general rules, but as a game, this is probably sufficient to get people drinking (or at least paying attention, which is the other benefit).
Anybody who’s been arrested is going to get utterly fucked, I think. I’m a bit afraid to playtest the rules for fear of drinking away all the lines I’ve already got memorized. Must turn to science, then, for evaluation.
Lauren :: 9 January, 2010 12.48pm
From a purely capatalistic standpoint I think everyone should drink when the word curse/cursed/accurst is said. It’s a bit less erudite I know but it sells beer.