In this production, while they were taking a breather between bouts (Hamlet was winning, two-nothing, I think), Laertes suddenly attacked Hamlet and nicked him in the arm ("Have at you, now!" Foul blow). Hamlet, who had been just standing there mopping his brow with a towel, noticed his arm was bleeding and realized that Laertes' weapon was sharp. The treachery had become obvious. Without his weapons, he lunged at Laertes suddenly, grabbing his wrist with one hand, and yanked the weapon out of his hand with the other. He then offered Laertes the blunted weapon he'd been using. Laertes had no choice but to take it and hope for the best.

When they went at it again, Hamlet came on strong, obviously pissed, and Laertes, pretty scared, was very much on the defensive. It looked pretty realistic.

Don Firth