The scene, the first in Act II, follows shortly after Polonius' most famous speech, his advice "to thine own self be true" to his son Laertes. One scene often cut is a brief interchange between Polonius and his minion, Reynaldo. Playing the scene in between, as written, gives Hamlet-and the audience-time to breathe."Īs much as any "Hamlet" turns on its bravura title player, Branagh believes his approach helps shine light on the other roles and characters, too.
The actor's required to strike 12, as it were, with hardly a break. "When you trim that intervening scene, you go from one of the richest speeches-one about the art of acting, after all-to one of the most famous. There's a scene that follows that's often cut, but then the next contains the `To be or not to be' soliloquy. Hamlet meets the (traveling) players and gives his `rogue and peasant slave' soliloquy. "There are two purple patches close together, for instance, beginning in the second scene in Act II. That can actually do the actor performing the title role a disservice. They don't take artificial pauses to let the audience know some lines have been cut."īranagh also felt most trimmed versions zero in on Hamlet in a drama where he is already unmistakably a center. It's as if, by being allowed to play the scenes completely, actors aren't afraid to throw lines away, as it were, to move the text along. And often, because key lines are cut, actors play scenes longer than they otherwise would. It causes a not very helpful intensity, and it's exhausting to play. "Having seen various incomplete versions on stage, I find what happens is that it's harder to follow because a lot of the set pieces are artificially yoked together. "I've watched the complete version in the theater, and I feel it moves quicker and is easier to take in. Hamlet decides to spare his life for the time being.Paradoxically, Branagh insists the result should seem to play more quickly. Hamlet reasons that to kill the King now would only send his soul to heaven rather than hell. Hamlet is summoned by his distressed mother, Gertrude, and on the way, he happens upon Claudius kneeling and attempting to pray. He immediately resolves to send Hamlet away. The play provokes Claudius, and he interrupts the action by storming out. Act IIIĪt the performance, Hamlet watches Claudius closely to see how he reacts. During rehearsal, Hamlet and the actors plot to present Hamlet's play before the King and Queen. Hamlet writes a play which includes scenes that mimic the murder of Hamlet's father. Their arrival coincides with a group of travelling actors that Hamlet happens to know well. Claudius summons Guildenstern and Rosencrantz, old friends of Hamlet to find out what's got into him. They had hoped to find the reason for Hamlet's sudden change in behaviour but could not. He rejects Ophelia, while Claudius and Polonius, the royal attendant, spy on him. Hamlet, Act 1 Scene 3Īccording to his plan, Hamlet begins to act strangely. This above all: to thine own self be true. Laertes warns his sister, Ophelia, away from Hamlet and thinking too much of his attentions towards her. When Hamlet hears of the Ghost from Horatio, he wants to see it for himself.Įlsewhere, the royal attendant Polonius says farewell to his son Laertes, who is departing for France. Hamlet continues to mourn for his father's death and laments his mother's lack of loyalty. At that moment, the Ghost reappears, and the guards and Horatio decide to tell Hamlet.Ĭlaudius, Hamlet's uncle, married Hamlet's recently-widowed mother, becoming the new King of Denmark. The guards describe a ghost they have seen that resembles Hamlet's father, the recently-deceased king. Late at night, guards on the battlements of Denmark's Elsinore castle are met by Horatio, Prince Hamlet's friend from school. The play ends with a duel, during which the King, Queen, Hamlet's opponent and Hamlet himself are all killed. His uncle, fearing for his life, also devises plots to kill Hamlet. Hamlet feigns madness, contemplates life and death, and seeks revenge. The ghost of the King of Denmark tells his son Hamlet to avenge his murder by killing the new king, Hamlet's uncle. TL DR (may contains spoilers): Hamlet sees his dead dad's ghost, pretends to go crazy with revenge, actually goes crazy with revenge (debatable), and everyone dies. Information to help you plan your visit to Shakespeare's family homes Prices, booking, opening times and more to help you get organisedĮnjoy seasonal activities and special events throughout the year Walk in Shakespeare’s footsteps at Shakespeare's New Place Relive Shakespeare's love story at Anne Hathaway's Cottage. Visit William Shakespeare's Birthplace and explore his childhood world, right where it all began.