Have you Shakespeare fans ever wondered how well Fortinbras ran Denmark after the events of Hamlet wiped out the rest of the royal family?

Lee Blessing (Cobb, A Walk in the Woods) did, and he's written a play about it. And, by all accounts, it's a hit.

Fortinbras, Blessing's comedic sequel to Shakespeare's classic, follows the hapless heir as he tries to cover up the deaths of Hamlet, Polonius, Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia et al -- and deal with their naggy ghosts.

Bill Campbell stars as Fortinbras in a production at Hollywood's Howard Fine Studio Theatre, described thus by Variety's critic:

"Blessing's deconstruction of Hamlet is rich with metaphor and irony, reverberating with insights about politics, history and truth. Far more than any political polemic, Blessing's play drives home the point about hypocrisy in the life of the polity with piercing wit and style. The play also offers insights on the spiritual dimension of politics, as the royal ghosts are condemned to a netherworld of regret as they endlessly relive their moral lapses." Associate director Kyle Fritz told Playbill On-Line that the production has been selling out many performances, but will not be extended. The play was done previously at La Jolla Playhouse in La Jolla, CA in the early 1990s.

Fortinbras runs through Nov. 24 at the Howard Fine Studio Theatre. Tickets cost $22.50. For tickets or information: (213) 660-TKTS.