Hamlet
"To Be or Not to Be." Hamlet. This classic Shakespearean play is one of the most popular plays of all time! Isn't it obvious that we will be seeing this show at the Globe Theater?
First, let's do the quick rundown on the plot of Hamlet. Hamlet is a student who returns from school to find that his father had died and that his mother had remarried to Uncle Claudius. Prince Hamlet isn't happy about the wedding. Hamlet agrees to stay home and not return to school at this wish of his uncle. Meanwhile, Hamlet is involved with Ophelia. She is warned by her brother, Laertes that she can never marry Hamlet because he is destined to become king. Hamlet and Ophelia break off the relationship. Hamlet sees a ghost, and realizes that it is his father. The ghost tells Hamlet that Claudius poisoned him in his sleep. Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet's friends who are brought in to spy on him. He tries to find a way to prove Claudius killed his father before acting on it. He catches his step-dad admitting to the murder, but doesn't act on it. He tries to convince his mother Gertrude to stop being nice to her new husband. He attacks his mother, not understanding how she can forget her first husband so easily. He accidentally kills Ophelia's father, which sends her into a tailspin. Hamlet is sent to England where he will be killed. He learn, however, that Hamlet had Rosencrantz and Guildenstern killed instead. Claudius realizes that Hamlet is on to him, and comes up with another way to kill him. Here we learn that Ophelia has drowned. Hamlet is is started to see the funeral, because he had not known she had died. Hamlet still loved her. In the end, Gertrude dies, but not before revealing that she had been poisoned by Claudius' wine. Laertes reveals the plan, and then dies. Hamlet stabs Claudius with a poisoned sword and then forces him to drink the poisoned wine that killed Gertrude. Then Hamlet dies.
I know, I know, you are thinking, "What! This isn't a happy play!" But remember our discussion on tragedy versus comedy? Clearly this is the epitome of happiness. (Alright, so you may have to use your imagination on this one). Still, whether or not this has a "happily ever after," it definitely has a great plot and a timelessness to it that has made it an incredible play to be in and to watch!
First, let's do the quick rundown on the plot of Hamlet. Hamlet is a student who returns from school to find that his father had died and that his mother had remarried to Uncle Claudius. Prince Hamlet isn't happy about the wedding. Hamlet agrees to stay home and not return to school at this wish of his uncle. Meanwhile, Hamlet is involved with Ophelia. She is warned by her brother, Laertes that she can never marry Hamlet because he is destined to become king. Hamlet and Ophelia break off the relationship. Hamlet sees a ghost, and realizes that it is his father. The ghost tells Hamlet that Claudius poisoned him in his sleep. Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet's friends who are brought in to spy on him. He tries to find a way to prove Claudius killed his father before acting on it. He catches his step-dad admitting to the murder, but doesn't act on it. He tries to convince his mother Gertrude to stop being nice to her new husband. He attacks his mother, not understanding how she can forget her first husband so easily. He accidentally kills Ophelia's father, which sends her into a tailspin. Hamlet is sent to England where he will be killed. He learn, however, that Hamlet had Rosencrantz and Guildenstern killed instead. Claudius realizes that Hamlet is on to him, and comes up with another way to kill him. Here we learn that Ophelia has drowned. Hamlet is is started to see the funeral, because he had not known she had died. Hamlet still loved her. In the end, Gertrude dies, but not before revealing that she had been poisoned by Claudius' wine. Laertes reveals the plan, and then dies. Hamlet stabs Claudius with a poisoned sword and then forces him to drink the poisoned wine that killed Gertrude. Then Hamlet dies.
I know, I know, you are thinking, "What! This isn't a happy play!" But remember our discussion on tragedy versus comedy? Clearly this is the epitome of happiness. (Alright, so you may have to use your imagination on this one). Still, whether or not this has a "happily ever after," it definitely has a great plot and a timelessness to it that has made it an incredible play to be in and to watch!
Did you know that...?
Hamlet has been performed more than any other play in the world.
Hamlet is the longest Shakespearean play.
Hamlet has been translated more than any other play.
It is Shakespeare's most famous play.
Hamlet has more literary criticism written about it than any other of Shakespeare's works.
There are nearly 50 movie versions of Hamlet, more than 25 ballets, six operas, and dozens of assorted musical compositions.
Hamlet's lament, "To be or not to be" is the most quoted phrase in the English language.
Hamlet is the longest Shakespearean play.
Hamlet has been translated more than any other play.
It is Shakespeare's most famous play.
Hamlet has more literary criticism written about it than any other of Shakespeare's works.
There are nearly 50 movie versions of Hamlet, more than 25 ballets, six operas, and dozens of assorted musical compositions.
Hamlet's lament, "To be or not to be" is the most quoted phrase in the English language.
Info courtesy of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Shakespeare.
To Be... Hamlet
Because Hamlet is such a popular show, it comes as no surprise that every actor's dream role is Hamlet. Here is a list of notable actors who have had the opportunity to play this role.
1. Edmund Kean (1787-1833). He was so good that audience members were said to have left during intermission to drag friends in for the second half.
2. Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923). She played Hamlet in the French silent film version, but was one of the first females to attempt the role.
3. John Barrymore (1882-1942). He is considered to be one of the best. While he was playing Hamlet, he painted certain parts of his anatomy green.
4. Sir John Gielgud. He played Hamlet on stage in 190 and then again in the famous film version.
5. Jack Benny. He played Hamlet in the 1942 version called To Be or Not to Be.
6. Laurence Olivier (1907-1989). He helped revitalize interest in Shakespeare with his 1948 movie of the play.
7. Grigori Kozintsev (1905-1973). He wrote and directed a 1964 version of the classic.
8. Richard Burton. Also in 1934, Burton's Hamlet became the longest-running play on Broadway.
9. Nicol Williamson. He played the high strung prince in the 1969 movie.
10. Kevin Kline. He played Hamlet twice, in 1986 and 1990.
12. Mel Gibson. Surpisingly good, this actor is featured in the movie clip above!
13. Christian Bale. This Welsh actor is a favorite of the Internet views.
14. Ralph Fiennes. He took London by storm with his version of Hamlet in 1995.
15. Kenneth Branagh. This film set at the close of the nineteenth century featured a four hour long version of Hamlet.
1. Edmund Kean (1787-1833). He was so good that audience members were said to have left during intermission to drag friends in for the second half.
2. Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923). She played Hamlet in the French silent film version, but was one of the first females to attempt the role.
3. John Barrymore (1882-1942). He is considered to be one of the best. While he was playing Hamlet, he painted certain parts of his anatomy green.
4. Sir John Gielgud. He played Hamlet on stage in 190 and then again in the famous film version.
5. Jack Benny. He played Hamlet in the 1942 version called To Be or Not to Be.
6. Laurence Olivier (1907-1989). He helped revitalize interest in Shakespeare with his 1948 movie of the play.
7. Grigori Kozintsev (1905-1973). He wrote and directed a 1964 version of the classic.
8. Richard Burton. Also in 1934, Burton's Hamlet became the longest-running play on Broadway.
9. Nicol Williamson. He played the high strung prince in the 1969 movie.
10. Kevin Kline. He played Hamlet twice, in 1986 and 1990.
12. Mel Gibson. Surpisingly good, this actor is featured in the movie clip above!
13. Christian Bale. This Welsh actor is a favorite of the Internet views.
14. Ralph Fiennes. He took London by storm with his version of Hamlet in 1995.
15. Kenneth Branagh. This film set at the close of the nineteenth century featured a four hour long version of Hamlet.
Shakespeare
Not a whole lot is known about this brilliant playwright, and most of what we know comes from church documentation. There were no tabloids in his era. He was born in April, 1564. He was the third child and the first son of eight children. He apprenticed with his father in 1577 at a glove making shop, but he was interested in books. In 1582 William married Anne Hathaway. William was 18, Anne was 26. Six months later their first child, a daughter, Susanna, was born. Two years after that they had twins, Hamnet and Judith. Nothing is known of Shakespeare again until 1592. In 1592 we learn that Shakespeare had become successful, part of the professional theater world in London, a skilled poet, and had recognizable plays. Then, between 1594 and 1599 a Shakespeare produced a steady stream of plays. Awesome! No one knows how Shakespeare died. There are currently 20 causes of death on record. This is interesting. Maybe Shakespeare's intrigue is partly due to his mystique and mystery. What do you think?
