Hamlet

Hamlet without the prince a performance or event taking place without the principal actor.

☞ The phrase comes from an account given in the Morning Post of September 1775. The member of a theatrical company who was to play Hamlet in a production of Shakespeare's play ran off with an innkeeper's daughter before the performance; when the play was announced to the audience, they were told 'the part of Hamlet [was] to be left out, for that night'.