Playing the Role of Hamlet
Why is it that Hamlet is such a difficult character for actors to take on the role of?
Playing Hamlet has been described as the actor equivalent to competing in the Olympic games. One of the largest challenges is the complexity of Hamlet as a character. He rides an emotional roller coaster throughout the play, and all these emotions must be communicated to an audience from all walks and stations of life in an equally impactful way.
The role, and even the play itself, is largely defined by the soliloquies Hamlet delivers. The actor must be able to captivate the audience throughout, and the best Hamlets are those who were able to create a feeling through their soliloquies that they are talking to each individual specifically.
The role of Hamlet is personally exposing. The actor must put him or herself into the role in an unique way in order to create that experience of true, raw, human emotion. He must be identifiable, but also have an attitude of separation and self-pity. In the words of The Independent's theatre critic Paul Taylor, "it's essential that the actor playing Hamlet reaches the audience on that peculiar 'you could never be me, and yet you are, even as we speak, essentially me' level".
In addition, there is also the fact that the play as it was written is four and a half to five hours long! A total of 4,042 lines! Portrayals of the play may be shortened, and may be in the form of a film, but it's still quite the acting marathon!
Playing Hamlet has been described as the actor equivalent to competing in the Olympic games. One of the largest challenges is the complexity of Hamlet as a character. He rides an emotional roller coaster throughout the play, and all these emotions must be communicated to an audience from all walks and stations of life in an equally impactful way.
The role, and even the play itself, is largely defined by the soliloquies Hamlet delivers. The actor must be able to captivate the audience throughout, and the best Hamlets are those who were able to create a feeling through their soliloquies that they are talking to each individual specifically.
The role of Hamlet is personally exposing. The actor must put him or herself into the role in an unique way in order to create that experience of true, raw, human emotion. He must be identifiable, but also have an attitude of separation and self-pity. In the words of The Independent's theatre critic Paul Taylor, "it's essential that the actor playing Hamlet reaches the audience on that peculiar 'you could never be me, and yet you are, even as we speak, essentially me' level".
In addition, there is also the fact that the play as it was written is four and a half to five hours long! A total of 4,042 lines! Portrayals of the play may be shortened, and may be in the form of a film, but it's still quite the acting marathon!