Hamlet

| Synopsis |

Glenn played "Laertes" in Hamlet at the Ludlow Festival in 1998. The director was Glen Walford and the scene designer was Rodney Ford. The tragedy in five acts, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, was written by William Shakespeare. There is documentary evidence of a version of Hamlet already in existence in 1589; but it was first staged as a version "authorized" by Shakespeare in 1604, after an earlier version had been staged in 1601. The story is loosely based on a legendary Danish king.

The setting for the Ludlow Festival performance was the Inner Bailey of Ludlow Castle. The ancient walls provided an awe-inspiring backdrop for the play. The set design included wattle fencing, timber, and Nordic sculptures that were intended to invoke a Viking fortress, while still complementing the Norman stonework of the castle. The costumes were in Viking style, but were based on the romantic ideal Viking style of dress rather than on authentic historical Viking costume.

Go to top

"I'll be revenged most thoroughly for my father!"

Hamlet is one of the most famous dramatic works in the world; it has been translated into nearly every written language. Given that many in the audience will bring their own expectations and knowledge of previous performances with them to the theatre, the actors who perform in Hamlet are challenged to make the characters come to life in new, meaningful, and interesting ways. The play opens with the ghost of Hamlet's father appearing to the night watch. Hamlet is in mourning for his father and lamenting the irreverent behaviour of his mother, Gertrude, who has married his uncle Claudius within weeks of her first husband's death. Laertes (the character played by Glenn) is in a state room, asking the king's leave to return to France; he had come to Denmark for the coronation of Claudius. Laertes is the brother of Ophelia (who is the lover of Hamlet) and son to Polonius (who is councillor to the king). Laertes serves as a foil to Prince Hamlet: They are to cause each others' demise as both will seek revenge for a father's death; both are pawns to Claudius and to events beyond their control. As Laertes takes leave of his sister prior to his journey, he tenderly expresses affection and counsels her to retain her honour and her heart in the heat of Hamlet's advances; Hamlet and Ophelia are not of an equal social level, "Be wary then; best safety lies in fear. Youth to itself rebels, though none else near." Polonius then lectures Laertes, including the famous line, "This above all, to thine own self be true."

Hamlet soon meets the ghost of his father. The ghost informs him that he did not die a natural death: He had been poisoned by his own brother, Claudius, who poured a poison into his ear as he lay sleeping. The ghost entreats Hamlet to avenge his death. Hamlet vows to do so, but delays exposure of the murder pending further evidence of foul play. The weight of this revelation and the responsibility to wreak revenge make him increasingly melancholy and agitated, seemingly on the verge of madness. The court assumes that the madness is due to Hamlet's lovesickness over Ophelia, who had repulsed his advances as her father and brother advised. Hamlet believes that Ophelia is in league with her father and the king against him; he feigns madness with her and treats her cruelly. In order to gain proof of his uncle's guilt, Hamlet takes advantage of the presence of a group of players in the castle; he asks them to insert several lines into their play, lines that will mirror the murder of Hamlet's father by Claudius. Claudius and Gertrude appear to have guilty consciences at this performance. Hamlet confronts his mother about it in her chamber; he hears someone hiding in the curtains. Incensed and believing it to be Claudius, he runs the hidden man through with his sword: He has mistakenly killed Polonius, father of Ophelia and Laertes.

Laertes rushes home to avenge his father's death. He is appalled to see that Ophelia has been driven quite mad by the estrangement of her lover, Hamlet, and the death of her father. His despair knows no bounds, "O heat, dry up my brains! tears seven times salt, Burn out the sense and virtue of mine eye!" Claudius takes advantage of the young man's grief and rage, and plots a way to have Laertes kill Hamlet, while making it appear as an accident. Laertes and Hamlet will have an ostensibly benign contest of sword play; but Laertes will poison the tip of his sword, "I'll touch my point With this contagion, that, if I gall him slightly, It may be death." As a backup, Claudius will prepare a cup of poisoned drink and tempt Hamlet to consume it. The queen bursts into the room: Ophelia, in her madness, has fallen into a stream and is drowned. Laertes is dumbfounded; he tries to hold back the tears, but he cannot. Later, Ophelia is being buried in unhallowed ground with little ceremony, because she is considered a suicide. Laertes is devastated. As earth is shovelled onto her cold remains, with heartrending sorrow, Laertes leaps into the pit, "Hold off the earth awhile, Till I have caught her once more in mine arms." Hamlet has been hiding nearby; he learns for the first time of Ophelia's death. He reveals himself, and expresses his inconsolability at the death of his lover. Laertes is bitter; he views Hamlet as the villain responsible for the death of both members of his family.

The sword fight is set to begin; it seems as though it will be a friendly contest, and wagers are placed upon the outcome. Hamlet begs Laertes to forgive him; he explains that the "madness" is to blame for the deaths, not poor Hamlet himself. Laertes' honour forbids him from accepting the explanation. In the swordplay, Hamlet is slightly wounded by Laertes' sword; Hamlet is unaware that the tip of the sword had been poisoned. Gertrude takes a drink from the cup of poison; Claudius is helpless to stop her. As the swordplay continues, Laertes' sword is exchanged for Hamlet's. Hamlet strikes out, and Laertes is wounded by his own poisoned sword. In the meantime, the queen has succumbed, and she cries out that she has been poisoned. The poison in his wound is killing Laertes. In a very moving moment as he lies dying, Laertes confesses his own guilt and the treachery of the king: "Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet: Mine and my father's death come not upon thee, Nor thine on me." His life is over. Hamlet realizes that he himself has but minutes to live, and he stabs Claudius with the poisoned sword. The new regime will be greeted on a stage that is littered with dead bodies.

Go to top