The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 13.2269  Tuesday, 12 November 2002

From:           W. L. Godshalk <
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Date:           Monday, 11 Nov 2002 18:02:31 -0500
Subject: 13.2252 The Danish Play
Comment:        Re: SHK 13.2252 The Danish Play

John Velz writes:

>I remember having read that John Barrymore, who was always immersed in
>his roles, ran a Laertes through in the fifth act of <Hamlet>. But no
>one ever retailed that story and added that "the Danish Play is a
>dangerously unlucky play".  They commented instead about Barrymore's
>hyperbolic drinking and/or his emotional involvement.

Is this part of the same tale as the duchess, the all-night love making,
the long drive back to London, and the restorative brandy?  I think Ben
Hecht (probably among many others) tells the story.  Barrymore, of
course, got rave reviews for his drunken opening night performance. Or
so the story goes. Nothing unlucky about that.

Yours,
Bill Godshalk

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