Performance Choices

Allison and I plan to perform Hamlet and Horatio's conversation that takes place right after Hamlet's first soliloquy. As we practiced in class, we realized the importance of not only reading the text, but also putting certain emphasis on words or phrases to convey the actual meaning of the words. I found that particular movements, such as hand gestures, and tone allow the audience to understand and engage in the scene much more than if the text was read with no excitement or emphasis. For example, when Hamlet says, "I prithee thee, do not mock me, fellow-student; I think it was to see my mother's wedding," (I.ii.176-77) his tonal shift from friendly to defensive illustrates his bitterness towards Horatio for coming to his mother's wedding, rather than his father's funeral. In addition, this scene reveals much of Hamlet's ability to quickly switch his persona from very depressed to cheerful and social (once Horatio appears). We thought that this scene would, therefore, be challenging but fun to perform because of its significance and complexity.