Vote on a Play for Litnet's Youtube Shakespeare Theatre!

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Originally Posted by toni

If that is the case, I guess it won't hurt for me to audition :D

By the way, ladies and gents, the complete works of William Shakespeare can be found here. Complete text and all. Thought it might be helpful for anyone who wants to be a part of this but don't have the books. :D

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Hey, beautiful Toni, if it is Hamlet which part will you audition for - beautiful tragic Ophelia? I think you would be great as she. It did dawn on me today that if it is Hamlet there are not that many female roles. I think of Ophelia, Hamlet's mother, a maid and one of the players is a female, and not sure there be any others. I guess, so far, we have more men here than women. I am not acting; I am the behind the scenes role of casting director. What fun that will be. I know so many on Litnet since I have been here a good while. I can't wait to get started. I can think of some great guys who would love to ham it up; I may tell them about this thread this weekend, before the voting is over.

I'm glad people are seeing Hamlet is obviously the best choice. If this goes through, i'd be happy to contribute myself to acting.

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Originally Posted by Mathor

I'm glad people are seeing Hamlet is obviously the best choice. If this goes through, i'd be happy to contribute myself to acting.

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Great! I'll add you to the list! :banana:

Glad to see you here, Mathor! I knew that Litnetters would soon show up to play a role. Wowy, Hamlet has 7 votes. This is going to be great. Three Sparrows, glad to see you here too, and so enthusiastic. I wish you had a video camera or mic. I am sorry it will take so long to load the video, but you can be one of our guaranteed audience. Without an audience, there would be no success, so you are valued greatly!

Okay, here's an important notice: For now on, for every person that volunteers, they must say which medium they would like to use; audio or video.

For everyone who has already volunteered and have not already mentioned their preffered meduim, should articulate the medium they are comfortable with. :)

By the way, since Hamlet is in the lead by far, our actors should start thinking about which roles they would like to play (almost everyone will have to do multiple roles) and name your choice on the Shakespeare Fan Club group. This is by no means offical and is merely speculative preparation, so don't start practicing lines or anything ;)

Also, if you volunteered and do not see your name in the actors list on the SFC group, please tell me.

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Originally Posted by Janine

It did dawn on me today that if it is Hamlet there are not that many female roles. I think of Ophelia, Hamlet's mother, a maid and one of the players is a female, and not sure there be any others. I guess, so far, we have more men here than women.

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That's okay. Ladies should not hesitate to join in, there are always some roles that can be switched in gender.

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Originally Posted by DanielBenoit

That's okay. Ladies should not hesitate to join in, there are always some roles that can be switched in gender.

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Such as...? Just curious to know who you think could switch genders and work in Hamlet....Polonius? Laertes? Rosencranz and Gildenstern? one of the guards? Maybe we should have done one of the plays with gender role switches, like As You Like it or Twelfth Night. I am really just joking with you, Daniel. I think as it looks so far, we have more male actors anyway and more chance of participation of males; so we should be ok with Hamlet (should it win). Maybe guys on here are just natural into being in the spotlight on Litnet. I think we can find enough men to play the roles.

Voted for the Dream - lots of roles in that, and plenty of room for fun too.

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Originally Posted by Janine

Such as...? Just curious to know who you think could switch genders and work in Hamlet....Polonius? Laertes? Rosencranz and Gildenstern? one of the guards? Maybe we should have done one of the plays with gender role switches, like As You Like it or Twelfth Night. I am really just joking with you, Daniel. I think as it looks so far, we have more male actors anyway and more chance of participation of males; so we should be ok with Hamlet (should it win). Maybe guys on here are just natural into being in the spotlight on Litnet. I think we can find enough men to play the roles.

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:lol:

Well, I so far we have two females (perfect) and four males. The major male roles in Hamlet are:
Hamlet
Claudius
Horatio
Laertes
Polonius
The Ghost

We'll definitley need someone older to play Polonius, for he seems to be the only one in the play whose role simply cannot fit with a young actor.

We might be able to get away with having a young guy for Claudius, but the actor will have to have a ruff and jousty voice.

The uncanny effect of the ghost's voice can be achieved with special effects, but we'll still need someone who does not have in any way a soft voice.

Hamlet, Horatio and Laertes are great for any age and work easily with casting.

As for the female roles; it doesn't really matter how old or young our Gertude actress is, Gertude can also get away with being played by a young actress.

Ophelia again is great for any age and the actress auditioning should have a soft innocent voice.


Again, this is only speculation and preparation for we still don't know for certain who the winner is. This is just another reminder for our actors to start thinking about their roles.

poll closing in three days

Now, in the style of Scheherazade

going once. . . . . .

Which version of Hamlet are you going to use?

The folio text with quarto corrections is Bate's preferred text in the RSC Complete Shakespeare. I'm reading through the RSC Complete at the moment and it really is a superb production. The footnotes are the best I've ever seen - not too scholarly and just right for actors or the "common reader".

The RSC are now introducing "stand alone" versions of the plays, extracted from the "complete". So although I'd recommend "the complete" you can now get Hamlet by itself:

http://www.rsc.org.uk/content/5124.aspx

The stand alone version has pictures and details of past RSC productions that might provide inspiration for backdrops or "style", if you want to get really serious!

P.S. Bate has an excellent blog, with several threads on Hamlet, including "David Tennant's first response to our Hamlet edition":

http://palgrave.typepad.com/rsc/

As Bate points out, there are several :D complicated things that need to be sorted out. Take just one phrase - is it "our philosophy" or "your philosophy"?:

http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/f...lays-the-thing

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Originally Posted by DanielBenoit

poll closing in three days

going once. . . . . .

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Hey, now!

That is trade marked!

:D was about to mention the copyright holder, but has too tired :p

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Originally Posted by mal4mac

Which version of Hamlet are you going to use?

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Bet you don't use the Bad Quarto

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Originally Posted by Janine

Glad to see you here, Mathor! I knew that Litnetters would soon show up to play a role. Wowy, Hamlet has 7 votes. This is going to be great. Three Sparrows, glad to see you here too, and so enthusiastic. I wish you had a video camera or mic. I am sorry it will take so long to load the video, but you can be one of our guaranteed audience. Without an audience, there would be no success, so you are valued greatly!

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Thanks! I love Hamlet, so this is a extremely easy contribution. Looks like things are going pretty swimmingly; will you have background music? You could have some sort of sound start at the entering of the Ghost...just a thought.

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Originally Posted by Three Sparrows

Thanks! I love Hamlet, so this is a extremely easy contribution. Looks like things are going pretty swimmingly; will you have background music? You could have some sort of sound start at the entering of the Ghost...just a thought.

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Yeah sure we'll have background music, though I am thinking more of strange ambient industrial music, usually used just for psychological effects, like when the ghost appears (to see a great example, see the 1946 film version). But I don't want a sweeping score or some classical music samples, I want this play to exist in a world of its own.

Speaking of the ghost, I just dicovered right now while practicing recordings, that I might make a reasonably good ghost, so I'll audition for that part as well.

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Originally Posted by DanielBenoit

Yeah sure we'll have background music, though I am thinking more of strange ambient industrial music, usually used just for psychological effects, like when the ghost appears (to see a great example, see the 1946 film version). But I don't want a sweeping score or some classical music samples, I want this play to exist in a world of its own.

Speaking of the ghost, I just dicovered right now while practicing recordings, that I might make a reasonably good ghost, so I'll audition for that part as well.

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i am very good at producing/writing/composing/recording music, i could help with the production of a score if need be.
in the same vein of this:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOTQ9...eature=related
Kubrick's fav (and most used, especially in The Shining) composer, Penderecki, I really like noise and ambience, and then little melodic things at times.

So far who is auditioning for which parts? Anyone have ideas on that yet? It would nice to inform the casting director - namely me. :lol: I wondered if I should outright ask people on Litnet to audition soon, now that we know the play will be Hamlet, right?

I may or may not audition, but if I do, it will certainly be for the part of Hamlet or the ghost (which i would run my voice through a lot of effects pedals if i did)

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Originally Posted by Janine

So far who is auditioning for which parts? Anyone have ideas on that yet? It would nice to inform the casting director - namely me. :lol: I wondered if I should outright ask people on Litnet to audition soon, now that we know the play will be Hamlet, right?

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Sooo sorry Janine, I sent you a message.

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Originally Posted by Mathor

i am very good at producing/writing/composing/recording music, i could help with the production of a score if need be.
in the same vein of this:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOTQ9...eature=related
Kubrick's fav (and most used, especially in The Shining) composer, Penderecki, I really like noise and ambience, and then little melodic things at times.

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Wow, thank you! :eek: I was just thinking of a score as a possibility, I never expected anyone on here to actually be able to create one. Exactly what I was looking for, a sort of dark, subjective, moody, kind of ambient music. Perfect! Thank you!

ı'd always go for macbeth

Thanks for voting, lovely Litnetters. :) You are all appreciated.

Our polls will be officially closed in less than 12 hours; and auditions will take place thereafter. Audition details will soon be posted.

:angel:

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Originally Posted by DanielBenoit

Sooo sorry Janine, I sent you a message.

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Oh that's ok; I was only joking really; I am good natured. I didn't realise either that the poles had not closed yet...however, it looks like Hamlet has the day! Yeah :banana:, should be fun casting that one.

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Wow, thank you! :eek: I was just thinking of a score as a possibility, I never expected anyone on here to actually be able to create one. Exactly what I was looking for, a sort of dark, subjective, moody, kind of ambient music. Perfect! Thank you!

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Wow, music...now that is pretty cool. I like his ideas....moody and ambient music...sort of new wavish with an edge might be good and some bit of melody relating to the more romantic/pensive/emotional moments.

I voted for The Taming of the Shrew. I think Twelfth Night Or A Midsummer Night's Dream or Othello would be fun. I like Hamlet but it is done so much.

Having said that, I would like to participate. This sounds like lots of fun. Great idea, Daniel. Also, Dori, thanks for mentioning the sock puppets; I think I might try that with my class when we read Julius Caesar. I just see a sock puppet intoning "Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears..." Brilliant!

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Originally Posted by qimissung

Having said that, I would like to participate. This sounds like lots of fun. Great idea, Daniel.

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:banana: Yay! A last minute volunteer! We certainly could do with more actors, so make sure that you have an audio program. :) Since the polls are closing in about ten hours, and I've already sent out a PM announcment to everybody else, I'll just forward it to you. :)

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I just see a sock puppet intoning "Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears..." Brilliant!

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:lol:

I haven't read all of the posts, and maybe I'll go back and do that, but I just can't help mentioning my sudden excited realization that, at least with some of the scenes, it'd be really great if you guys could set up a skype or yahoo audio chat, and record it so that we listeners can hear the interplay, and you guys really get some chemistry going during the readings.

^What an interesting idea! Though I doubt that many of our volunteers have live chat video cameras.

By the way, this thread will be offically closed in about ten hours. We've already declared Hamlet the obvious winner and have a new thread.

you might need a third party program to record it (or pay skype money for the option), but i think an audio chat between two people involved in an extended dialogue would be much better than recording the conversation separately. More than two people would almost certainly require paying money for a conference call/chat/meeting functionality, unless someone knows of a free way to do it (yahoo! chat??)

Okay everyone! Polls are closed! Hamlet is the winner!

This thread is now offically closed! All volunteers are in, if still wish to volunteer your last chance is now at the audition thread!

Audition thread can be found here:

http://online-literature.com/forums/...757#post777757

:wave: see you there!!