How does the fencing match in Hamlet actually score? How to show it on stage?
In a normal series of twelve, the winner would be the first to reach seven. It would be 7-5. Laertes, however, has given himself a handicap, or Hamlet an advantage, depending on the way you look at it, of 3. So he needs 9 to be sure of winning. Hamlet only needs three to make it impossible for Laertes to win. Your bored soccer fan classmate had a point, even if he didn’t realise it. Let’s imagine a penalty shootout of five shots each. Hamlet scores! Hamlet saves! Hamlet scores! Hamlet saves! You can see that if this is repeated again, Laertes will be out. Let’s return to our fencing match. Yes you could do it with slots, but Hamlet would have nine and Laertes 12. Arrange them to be flush on the right, ie with three empty spaces next to Laeertes’ first three on the left. After the first two excanges, you would indeed have two green for Hamlet and two red for Laertes. Hamlet’s green would take him next to Laertes 5th slot, ie one more green and Hamlet would win. You could indicate the wi
