The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 12.1599  Monday, 25 June 2001

[1]     From:   Stevie Gamble <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
        Date:   Friday, 22 Jun
        Subj:   Re: SHK 12.1579 Re: Small Cast Hamlets

[2]     From:   Paul E. Doniger <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
        Date:   Friday, 22 Jun 2001 22:57:15 -0400
        Subj:   SHK 12.1579 Re: Small Cast Hamlets


[1]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From:           Stevie Gamble <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date:           Friday, 22 Jun
Subject: 12.1579 Re: Small Cast Hamlets
Comment:        Re: SHK 12.1579 Re: Small Cast Hamlets

One point about small cast Hamlets which may sometimes be overlooked is
that they pose interesting challenges to the costumer; I hope Hardy will
not object to me asking anyone who is in the vicinity of the Edinburgh
Festival this August to take a look at  _Hamlet! The Musical!_ ,
featuring the grand total of five actors, and let me have their thoughts
as to how well, or how badly, I have risen to those challenges.
Fortunately the small on-stage orchestra will be dressed as an
orchestra...

Best wishes,
Stevie Gamble

[2]-------------------------------------------------------------
From:           Paul E. Doniger <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date:           Friday, 22 Jun 2001 22:57:15 -0400
Subject: Re: Small Cast Hamlets
Comment:        SHK 12.1579 Re: Small Cast Hamlets

OK, here's all I know: The actors in the JC production talked with us
after the performance. I didn't take any notes, but I remember some of
what they said. They did tell me that this was a new production; they
also mentioned the director's name (I can't remember who now, but it
wasn't Tina Packer).  The actors were all quite young, probably all
under 30 (with maybe one exception). I think these actors are all in a
training program or are interns at Sh. & Co.(they seem to be recent
college grads). Unfortunately, the group that does the school tours
doesn't seem to give out printed programs, and my memory is not good
enough to name these actors. I really doubt that Epstein was one of
them.

As I suggested in my previous posts, this production was done with
energy and sincerity. For that, I enjoyed it; the text, however, was
rushed (though not nearly so bad as last year's _Hamlet_), and much of
the character of Brutus and the character of Cassius were sacrificed for
speed. Caesar, on the other hand, seemed much more interesting than I
had ever seen before.  The "Calpurnia's dream" sequence was one of the
best moments in the play (Caesar showing both genuine fear and concern
along with his more traditional arrogant egotism). Caesar seemed almost
to know that he was going to be murdered, but refused to be stopped by
his fear from going to the senate. The Brutus/Cassius tent scene, on the
other hand, was too hurried to make much sense. The actors all made
noble efforts, however.

Does anyone know the names of the young actors in the touring troupe?

Paul E. Doniger

_______________________________________________________________
S H A K S P E R: The Global Shakespeare Discussion List
Hardy M. Cook, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The S H A K S P E R Webpage <http://ws.bowiestate.edu>

Subscribe to Our Feeds

Search

Make a Gift to SHAKSPER

Consider making a gift to support SHAKSPER.