What if we told you there was an alternate version of Hamlet where, instead of doing lots of brooding about his uncle and not talking to anyone, he asked Ophelia for help? What if we told you we took Hamlet and reimagined it as a modern day romantic comedy, with a fake relationship trope at it's core?
Because we... did exactly that.
His Royal Fakin' Highness is that romcom. While away at college in America, Hamlet is called back home after his father (the king)'s sudden passing, only to find out that, due to an antiquated law that requires the heir to be married before ascending the throne, the crown is passing not to him, but to his uncle. Ophelia, his childhood enemy who grew up underfoot at the palace while her father was the king's closest advisor, helps him stage an elaborate fake engagement, hoping to buy enough time to find a loophole in the law. But can anyone really get into that kind of thing without some complications?
Plus, no romcom (or hamlet adaptation) is complete without the best friend -- Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are here, but we fondly like to call them Rosie & Gil. Here's their vibe:
His Royal Fakin' Highness is a hopeful, hilarious, absurd romantic comedy, and is perfect for people who spend the winter holidays watching (and rewatching) movies like Love Actually and The Holiday. It draws inspiration from the 2000's romcom genre (so if you're into movies like Ten Things I Hate About You or The Proposal? This is for you). And the whole thing is available to listen right now, from start to finish!
You can listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Or just press play below to start the first episode!
