This is important in the staging as it is when we, the audience,
and the Court first see Claudius as King. The staging of this
opening court scene is instrumental in revealing the
relationships between the characters in Hamlet. Edward Bennett
(Laertes), and Mariah Gale (Ophelia) decided that the words of
advice Polonius gives are so familiar that the children know
what’s coming. Watch the scene and compare it to how you felt
about the characters. Watch The Player’s speech immediately
followed by Hamlet’s attempt to kill Claudius. What are the
similarities? How important is it to look at these two speeches
together? In Greg Doran's rehearsals, the actors decided that
Osric is a 'political flunkie.' Ryan Gage's character is
incredibly detailed - Does the audience see the this? How did
the choices the actors made differ from the choices of the
group? What movements were the most effective and why? What was
more significant gesture or looks? To complement the film,
WNET.ORG, in partnership with the RSC, is offeri