"To Be or Not to Be" is the second segment of the fourth episode of The Weekenders. It premiered on March 18, 2000 alongside "Home@work".
Synopsis[]
When Tish's friends make fun of Shakespeare, she stops hanging out with them.
Plot[]
Friday[]
Two weeks ago, Tino, Carver, and Lor have been missing Tish. It turns out that she had joined a Shakespeare company and has even gotten the part of Peaseblossom in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Upon her telling this to her friends, they respond by mocking her love of Shakespeare. Tino admits that they went too far, especially since they miss her commentary on some of the things they do and try to get back with her, though she refuses as she prefers the company of the theater loving friends. However, it is quickly apparent that their leader, Carl, is easily dismissive of Tish, whom he calls "Trish", and the gang plot to get her back somehow.
Saturday[]
Tino goes to his mother for advice where she first gets him to admit that him mocking Tish's interests was the wrong thing to do. She concludes that the best he can do is wait for her to come to terms that they are still friends and support her and her endeavors. Tino takes this news to Carver and Lor who are both distraught. They believe that if Tish never comes to her senses, she might continue with the acting company. They decide to throw a party for Tish that will bring her back to them, but when they run it by her, she continues to distance herself from them due to their beliefs. Tino can only wish Tish luck on her play.
Sunday[]
On the night of the play, Tino, Carver, and Lor, along with Tish's parents, arrive to support her. The kids are uncertain how the play will turn out so they bring sunglasses in case they fall asleep. Backstage, Tish comes to grips with the fact that despite getting a part in the play, Carl continues to dismiss, and even forget that she is part of the company. When Carl gets everyone a gift basket, except for Tish, she shuts herself in her dressing room, revealed to be a janitor's closet. Carl comes in to get a broom and Tish finally has had enough with being ignored and threatens to leave, with Carl admitting that they cut some of her lines.
Tish suddenly receives a gift wreath from Tino, Carver, and Lor telling her to "break a leg". At the last minute, Tish decides to continue on with the play, not for Carl, but for her friends whom she wants to impress. The play turns out to be a big success. Tino, Carver, and Lor end up liking it and even find it funny. Despite Tish having only one line, the gang thought she was excellent in the part, with Carl even being impressed. Afterwards, the gang reveal that they have a new appreciation for Shakespeare. When Carl offers Tish to come to the theater party, she opts to join her friends at Funville, resuming their kinship.
Cast[]
- Grey DeLisle as Lor McQuarrie
- Lisa Kaplan as Mrs. Tonitini
- Phil LaMarr as Carver Descartes
- Jason Marsden as Tino Tonitini
- Kath Soucie as Tish Katsufrakis
- Jeff Bennett as Mr. Katsufrakis
- Kerry Kenney as Mrs. Katsufrakis
- Rob Paulsen as Carl
Trivia[]
- Moral: Friends don't become friends just because they have the same interests.
- The title of the episode is a reference to a famous line quoted in one of William Shakespeare's well-known plays, Hamlet.
- Pizza Place Name: Pizza Platypus - Pizza Guy is dressed as a platypus with the menus resembling banana leaves.
- Carl says that Peaseblossom has five lines. She actually only has four, two of which are her simply saying "Ready," and the one Tish says, in which she says her own name.
