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

[DanielBenoit]

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.

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

[Janine]

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

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.

[Whifflingpin]

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

[DanielBenoit]

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.

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.

[DanielBenoit]

poll closing in three days

Now, in the style of Scheherazade

going once. . . . . .

[mal4mac]

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 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

[Scheherazade]

poll closing in three days

going once. . . . . .

Hey, now!

That is trade marked!

[DanielBenoit]

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

[mayneverhave]

Which version of Hamlet are you going to use?

Bet you don't use the Bad Quarto

[Three Sparrows]

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!

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.

[DanielBenoit]

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.

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.

[Mathor]

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.

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.

[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. I wondered if I should outright ask people on Litnet to audition soon, now that we know the play will be Hamlet, right?

[Mathor]

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)

[DanielBenoit]

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

Sooo sorry Janine, I sent you a message.

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.

Wow, thank you! 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!