Before I read John Gielgud Directs Richard Burton in
Hamlet: A Journal of Rehearsals, by
Richard Sterne, 1967, I watched excerpts on the internet. (In the book, p. 149: “Tuesday June 30 and Wednesday July 1 - Production filmed during three successive
stage performances by Electronovision, Inc. “)
The Electronovision version appeared nationally in theaters
that September, 1964, and excerpts are on the internet, where in the play’s last scene the actors make the
fencing seem an immediate, genuine,
vigorous, grim battle in this tragedy.
The book includes a) The Complete Journal of Rehearsals and
b) the play as performed, “The Prompt Script”.
There are also some beautiful photos,
two interviews, and an introduction that describes the making of the
Journal, which is transcription from audio tape.
Richard Sterne sometimes describes rehearsal events: “Burton…preferred
that Hamlet…should simply walk up to Laertes and take the weapon from him
deliberately,” (p. 61). This action can
be seen on the internet.
Much of the journal is direct quote: about Hamlet struggling with the others in
the ghost scene: “Gielgud: Save your energy. It’s very important that you let them do the
work in restraining you. Otherwise
you’ll tire too quickly. It’s dark and
the audience can only get a general impression of what’s going on, so fake your
part of the struggle.” (p. 63)
A good, guided way to read William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
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