Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, A Tragic Episode, in Three Tabloids is a short parody play by W. S. Gilbert of Hamlet by William Shakespeare. The main characters in Gilbert's play are King Claudius and Queen Gertrude of Denmark, their son Prince Hamlet, the courtiers Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and Ophelia. Gilbert's play first appeared in Fun magazine in 1874 after having been rejected for production by several theatre companies. The first professional performance of the work was not until June 1891, a benefit matinée at the Vaudeville Theatre in London. The play finally ran at the Court Theatre from 27 April 1892 to 15 July, about 77 performances, with Decima Moore as Ophelia, Brandon Thomas as Claudius and Weedon Grossmith as Hamlet. An amateur performance in 1900 featured P. G. Wodehouse as Guildenstern. The play also enjoyed a production in New York City at the Murray Hill Theatre in 1900. A charity performance in 1902 featured Gilbert himself as Claudius, with Nancy McIntosh as Gertrude. Gilbert again played Claudius at a charity performance in 1904 at the Garrick Theatre (also featuring Clo Graves, Francis Burnand, Edward Rose, Paul Rubens, Lady Colin Campbell, Madeleine Lucette Ryley, Col. Newnham Davis, Alfred Sutro, Alicia Ramsey, Edward Rose and Capt. Robert Marshall) and in a 1908 revival at the Lyceum Theatre starring Marion Terry.A televised performance of the play was given in 1938 with Grahame Clifford as Claudius, Erik Chitty as Guildenstern, Leonard Sachs as Rosencrantz, and Peter Ridgeway as Hamlet. The play continues to receive occasional productions. Source: Wikipedia (en)