A Brief Hamlet History

The story of Hamlet is one of William Shakespeare's most famous plays. It is a tragic play that begins and ends with death.
Originally it was performed in London's Globe Theatre, where Shakespeare's plays were often first shown. Around the time Hamlet was performed, Shakespeare had gone through a tragedy writing phase, writing plays such as Julius Caesar and Titus Andronicus. 
Hamlet is a story of fighting and death. Claudius killed Hamlet's father and married his mother in order to be king. Gertrude knows all of this and simply tries to convince Hamlet to get out of mourning for his father. Hamlet goes a little bit crazy over wondering whether or not he should avenge his father and kill Claudius. Polonius wants to know exactly what is bothering Hamlet and while spying on him, ends up getting himself killed. Ophelia becomes insane over her lover killing her father and kills herself. Laertes challenges Hamlet to a fight. A very paranoid Claudius wants Hamlet killed so he poisons Laertes's sword and the winner's wine so whichever way the fight ended up going, Hamlet would surely die. Hamlet does get scratched, but manages to stab Laertes and Claudius. Gertrude drinks the poisoned wine. Everyone ends up dying and the state of Denmark is bleak.
The play should be dark, symbolic, as well as entertaining. There are no great funny parts, but all audience members can relate to at least one character in the play, whether as corrupt as Claudius or as innocent as Ophelia.

Sources cited
Brockett, Oscar G. "English Theatre to 1642." History of the Theatre. Foundation Edition ed. New York: Pearson Education, 2007. 119-22. Print.

Small Props

There are only a few small props that are essential to Hamlet.

The wine goblet in the final scene is essential. It should be like the one above- gothic, elegant, transparent. This is the goblet that Gertrude will drink from that contains poison and will kill her.

When Ophelia begins to go insane, she begins to hand out rosemary in remembrance for Hamlet. Rosemary is symbolic for "remembrance between lovers". When she hands it to him, Hamlet is not even around. It is very vital to the play that she has all the flowers and herbs she mentions because they all have a symbolic meaning for who they are for. Continued below are the plants she must contain.

Fennel

Rue

Pansies

Columbines

Daisies.
Please note, it is extremely vital that Ophelia does not carry a violet at all because she states that they all withered and died when her father was killed



One last, and possibly most famous prop needed is the skull Hamlet speaks to.

It needs to be as realistic as possible. This is a symbol for the physical reminder of death. The one Hamlet finds and speaks to is the one that belonged to Yorick, a jester that used to entertain at the castle. Hamlet is merely speaking about how everyone comes to this fate of death and one point or another, there is not avoiding it. It is crucial to the play because it is the scene that is the most famous and well known.

Sources Cited
"Faerie's Finest - Rosemary Salt." Faerie's Finest - Gourmet Seasonings & Cocoas, Flavored Sugars & Salts, Herbs & Spices, and Flavor Extracts. Web. 10 Mar. 2011. <http://www.faeriesfinest.com/B005.html>.


"Hamlet Symbolism, Imagery & Allegory." Shmoop: Study Guides & Teacher Resources. Web. 10 Mar. 2011. <http://www.shmoop.com/hamlet/symbolism-imagery.html>.

Ophelia Character analysis

Ophelia is the daughter of Polonius and was going to marry Hamlet. She was a very sheltered child so when everything starts falling apart, she does as well. Her father tried to protect her from everything. When she couldn't understand why Hamlet is upset and starts insulting her, Polonius tries to spy on him and see what's going on. Polonius ends up getting stabbed while trying to find out. Ophelia's brother, Laertes comes to see her, only to find that she has gone somewhat insane. She keeps singing strange songs and handing out flowers and herbs to everyone. She was just so young and innocent, she could not comprehend the death of her father. She drowns herself out of her grief and madness.
Ophelia really is the symbol of innocence in the play. The death of her beloved father causes her to become suicidal. Others in the play become upset over death in the play, but mostly just about themselves being killed. Hamlet is the only one who comes close to showing as much grief as Ophelia but instead of wallowing in sadness, he becomes angry and seeks to avenge his father.

Sources cited
Jameson, Mrs. "Mrs. Jameson - Essay on Ophelia (HAMLET)." Shakespeare and His Critics - Index. Web. 10 Mar. 2011. <http://shakespearean.org.uk/oph1-jam.htm>.

Setting

The set for Hamlet is supposed to be Elsinore Castle in Denmark.

This is the real castle where Hamlet lived and where the story takes place.

The set on stage needs to be royal, yet drab and dark to set the mood. Everything should be shades of grey to be melancholy, simple, symbolic and dark. It will also help to make the characters stand out from the background.

The first scene should be particularily dark, because it is nighttime and it is when Hamlet's father returns as a ghost to speak to him

When Hamlet and the other characters are watching a puppet show, it should be in a banquet/ballroom type setting.

The curtains Polonius hides behind need to be bulky and dark enough to conceal him, yet when he moves Hamlet should be able to see the curtains moving.

Ophelia's funeral takes place outside. Everyone should be dressed in black to mourn her, including her and her coffin.

The scenery for her funeral should be dull and drab. Possible rain sound effects so umbrellas, coats and hats can be used.

The fight scene against Hamlet and Laertes should be inside in the same area where they witnessed the show, but the space should be empty except for a chair for Gertrude and Claudius and a small table for the wine goblet. This gives the actors maximum room for stage combat.



Sources Cited

"HAMLET « F I S H I N G." F I S H I N G. Web. 10 Mar. 2011. <http://espliego.wordpress.com/2011/01/31/hamlet/>.

Hamlet Character Analysis

Hamlet is a very misunderstood character by both the characters in the play and the audience. He is a very depressed young man who had his world turned upside down. His father has died and came back to him one night as a ghost, telling Hamlet that Claudius (Hamlet's uncle who has just married his mother) poisoned him. His father demands that Hamlet avenge him. People argue about whether or not Hamlet actually saw the ghost of his deceased father. Was there really a ghost on the rooftop or did Hamlet simply make it all up in his mind? Was he just so sad he thought of what he wanted to see?  There is no specific answer and it is really up to interpretation. Even Hamlet occasionally has doubts about the Ghost. Not if he really saw it or not, but whether it was honest with him and he really should avenge his father.
Hamlet then goes on to accidently kill his future father-in-law which makes his fiancée so upset that she drowns herself. Her brother then decides to fight Hamlet and Claudius poisons both the sword and wine so Hamlet will either be killed in the fight or right after winning it. Hamlet does get scratched with the poisoned sword, but still manages to kill Laertes and Claudius while Gertrude drinks the wine. Hamlet, in short, has a miserable last few moments of life where he is thought to be an insane, heartless killer and everyone he knew and loved dies with him.

Sources Cited

"T. S. Eliot's "Hamlet and His Problems"" Shakespeare Navigators. Web. 10 Mar. 2011. <http://shakespeare-navigators.com//hamlet/Eliot/index.html>.

Stage Combat

There are few weapons used in Hamlet.
Hamlet uses a rapier when he accidently stabs Polonius. Polonius is hiding behind a curtain and Hamlet thinks it is actually Claudius. He stabs at the curtain many times before realizing he has killed Polonius.
The biggest stage combat scene is when Hamlet is fighting against Laertes. They fence against each other using foils. It is important that the foils have a slightly different handle because Laertes's foil is poisoned in order to kill Hamlet quickly. Hamlet gets scratched with the poisoned foil and then stabs Laertes with it.
There are a few instances of light stage combat when Laertes and Hamlet fight during Ophelia's funeral.


Sources Cited
Shakespeare, William. The Tragical History of Hamlet Prince of Denmark. New York, NY: Penguin Group, 2002. 1337-1391. Print.

Make-up and hair.

Most make-up in CWU's production of Hamlet is basic. Since it is portrayed in a dark, steam-punk theme, the make-up should also be dark and slightly gothic.

This is an example of how Ophelia should look. Sweet and innocent with still a touch of darkness.


The most advanced make-up would be Hamlet's father who shows up as a ghost.

He should be very pale all over with sunken eyes and blackened lips. It needs to be very over the top that he is a ghost so the audience believes that Hamlet is really seeing his deceased father.



As much as possible, actor's hair should be in curls or dreadlocks. Dreadlocks is very steam-punk and appropriate in order to match the costuming.

Sources cited:

Love To Know. Web. 10 Mar 2011. <http://makeup.lovetoknow.com/Halloween_Ghost_Makeup>.

Wedding Plaza. Web. 10 Mar 2011. <http://weddings-plaza.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/gothic-makeup.jpg>.




Emerson Salon. Web. 10 Mar 2011. <http://emersonsalon.com/2009/01/steam-punk-hair-fun.html>.


Vonstiller's Webblog. Web. 10 Mar 2011. <http://vonstilter.wordpress.com/page/2/>.