The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 20.0608  Tuesday, 15 December 2009

[1] From:   Donald Bloom <
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     Date:   Monday, 14 Dec 2009 12:48:35 -0600
     Subj:   RE: SHK 20.0601 Jude Law Hamlet

[2] From:   Steve Roth <
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     Date:   Tuesday, 15 Dec 2009 09:19:01 -0800
     Subj:   Re: SHK 20.0601 Jude Law Hamlet


[1]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From:       Donald Bloom <
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Date:       Monday, 14 Dec 2009 12:48:35 -0600
Subject: 20.0601 Jude Law Hamlet
Comment:    RE: SHK 20.0601 Jude Law Hamlet

Two things:

1  --  "Alcoholic" is a very slippery term and can be used to mean 
almost anybody except a Teatotaler. One man's alcoholic is another man's 
person "who enjoys his drink." Is Claudius a drinker or a drunkard? When 
does one turn into the other? I assume, however, that we are all in 
agreement that he is at least a heavy drinker. If an interpretation 
depends on his being more than that then it stands in some peril for I 
don't see evidence of his being out of control and helpless any of the 
times he is on stage.

2  --  Not being a lawyer, I doubtless have a different idea of what 
constitutes evidence, but I find that offered against Gertrude slight to 
near invisibility. You would get farther suggesting that Ophelia was the 
drunkard, as witnessed by her mad scene.

(As a staging gimmick for the actress it might work well, but it depends 
on adding Gertrude's incessant drinking, something not even suggested in 
the text.)

[2]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From:       Steve Roth <
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Date:       Tuesday, 15 Dec 2009 09:19:01 -0800
Subject: 20.0601 Jude Law Hamlet
Comment:    Re: SHK 20.0601 Jude Law Hamlet

Larry Weiss:"There is one character who I think should be seen as an 
alcoholic: Gertrude."

I also saw a production once (can't remember which one) in which 
Gertrude increasingly turned to drink in the course of the play. (A 
presentation in 20th century dress, she favored tumblers of whisky.) I 
found it incredibly effective. Your take on Claudius' injunction not to 
drink works beautifully.

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