The Allure of Playing Hamlet
The Allure of Playing Hamlet
#0The Allure of Playing Hamlet
Posted: 4/27/05 at 4:13pm
This might not be off-topic but I'll post it here without the risk of being yelled at for it not be on topic haha. So I'm doing a little assignment on why I think this role has such a facination for actors. Any thoughts from people who have played Hamlet or just people who have some insight would be great! Thanks
Updated On: 4/27/05 at 04:13 PM
Plum
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/4/04
#1re: The Allure of Playing Hamlet
Posted: 4/27/05 at 4:30pm
I think it's at least partly due to those soliloquoys. You get to verbalize the internal life of the character, and you get to do so using some of the most famous language in the history of English literature.
"To be or not to be..."
#2re: The Allure of Playing Hamlet
Posted: 4/27/05 at 4:49pm
When I was in high school, I saw a Hamlet in Central Park I will never forget. Stacy Keach played Hamlet, Colleen Dewhurst played Gertrude and James Earl Jones played the most powerful frightening Claudius you can imagine.
The night I saw it, there was a light rain but the actors were playing anyway, however, the rain started but was light
enough so that the performance continued. At one point James Earl Jones stretched out his hand and said the line "What if this hand were thicker than itself with brother's blood? Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens to wash it white as snow?" He started to pull it back but an instinct told him to keep it out a little longer.
We all watched his hand as the rain stopped. It was amazing. There was NOT rain enough in heaven for that.
On another note, Hamlet was portrayed by at least 3 actresses: Sarah Bernhardt, Judith Anderson and Diane Venora.
#3re: The Allure of Playing Hamlet
Posted: 4/27/05 at 4:52pm
Oh--and I once learned Hamlet's "To be or not to be" soliloquy in Pig Latin:
Oo-tay e-bay or-hay ot-nay oo-tay e-bay:
At-that is-hay e-thay estion-quay...
all the way through to:
Ymph-nay! In-hay y-thay orisons-hay
E-bay all-hay y-may ins-say
Emembered-ray!
Once you learn something like that (I don't remember why--I think on a dare), you never forget it.
#4re: The Allure of Playing Hamlet
Posted: 4/27/05 at 5:14pmThe equity theatre where I work in Rochester is currently presenting a stunning production of Hamlet starring Kelli Fox (of Shaw festival fame, and Michael J. Fox's sister) in the title role. It is truly a wonderful role, and watching audiences jump to their feet night after night for her is thrilling.
#5re: The Allure of Playing Hamlet
Posted: 4/27/05 at 5:26pmAnd ironically and sadly tonight's performance was just cancelled because of a severe abdominal injury that was sustained by one of the actor's in last night's show.
sabrelady
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
#6re: The Allure of Playing Hamlet
Posted: 4/27/05 at 6:11pm"abdominal injury". Is that a defacto swaord thrust?!
#7re: The Allure of Playing Hamlet
Posted: 4/27/05 at 6:20pmI'm not sure. I wasn't there last night. I have an email into some production staff, though I would have to believe that to be the case. We do have a large moving stage floor in the middle of the deck that is up for the play within the play (as a stage) and down for the grave, and other things. So it could've been an Idina like injury. But I think it has to be a sword injury.
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