Rehearsing Hamlet

Synopsis
Television documentary about Joseph Papp’s 1982-3 Public Theatre, New York Shakespeare Festival production of Hamlet. The production cast an actress, Diane Venora, in the role of Hamlet and the documentary includes interviews with Venora and Papp.
Language
English
Country
United States
Medium
Television
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Transmission details
1982 (Channel: Arts and Entertainment Network)
Duration
54 mins

Credits

Director
Carl Charlson
Producer
Carl Charlson
Cinematographer
Chuck Clifton
Contributor
Joseph Papp
Cast
Diane VenoraHamlet
Bob GuntonClaudius
Kathleen WiddoesGertrude
Pippa PearthreeOphelia
George HamlinGhost
George HamlinPlayer King
J.T. WalshMarcellus
James CromwellHoratio
James SheridenBarnardo
Rocco SistoOsric
Stephen McNaughtonFrancisco

Additional Details

Production type
Documentary/Educational/News
Plays
Hamlet
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Rehearsals; New York Shakespeare Festival; Gender reversal

Notes

Notes
A recording of the stage performance has not been found.
History
Exact transmission date not known.
Reviews
"... Probably the most shocking part of this casting decision was his choice of the relatively inexperienced, recent acting school graduate Diane Venora for the title role. The hour-long television documentary, REHEARSING HAMLET (broadcast on ABC-Cable) was part of a Joe Papp Presents series of occasional television specials. It follows the rehearsal process from beginning to opening night. Intriguingly, the film, meant to bolster NYSF’s reputation, captures more than was intended. t presents an unsettling spectacle: the disintegration of an actor working under Svengali-like direction. It becomes clear that, without admitting it, Papp wants to control Venora’s every line reading, gesture, and breath and does this in a way that utterly demoralizes the novice actor. The film documents an extraordinarily "naked" abuse of directorial power that was, in part, enflamed by Papp’s complex relation to the play, a mix of awe-inspired love and obsessive belief that Hamlet is uniquely the most difficult role ever written". Patricla Lennox, Shakespeare à l’écran / Shakespeare on Screen : Hamlet 25 et 26 mars 2010/25 and 26 March 2010.Shakespeare à l’écran / Shakespeare on Screen : Hamlet 25 et 26 mars 2010/25 and 26 March 2010
Shakespeare à l’écran / Shakespeare on Screen : Hamlet 25 et 26 mars 2010/25 and 26 March 2010
http://www.univ-lehavre.fr/actu/hamlet/hamlet_lennox.php

Production Company

Name

ABC Video Enterprises

Archive

Name

Folger Shakespeare Library

Email
reference@folger.edu
Web
http://www.folger.edu External site opens in new window
Phone
(202) 544 4600
Fax
(202) 544 4623
Address
201 East Capitol Street, SE
Washington
DC 20003
USA
Name

Theater Instituut Nederland

Email
info@theaterinstituut.nl
Web
http://www.theaterinstituut.nl External site opens in new window
Phone
+ 31 (0) 20 551 3300
Fax
+ 31 (0) 20 5513303
Address
The Netherlands Theatre Institute
Herengracht 168
1016 BP Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Name

Theatre on Film and Tape (TOFT)

Email
toft@nypl.org
Web
http://www.nypl.org/locations/lpa/theatre-film-and-tape-archive External site opens in new window
Phone
+ 1 (212) 870-1642
Fax
(212) 8701868
Address
Billy Rose Theatre Collection
40 Lincoln Center Plaza
New York,New York
10023-7498
USA

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "Rehearsing Hamlet". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av66298 (Accessed 26 Nov 2024)