Steve On Broadway (SOB): "There are precious few plays that have graced a Broadway stage as many times as William Shakespeare's Hamlet.
While it's not known precisely when Shakespeare wrote Hamlet, historians believe The Bard wrote this play circa 1601, and it's known that the work was mounted in New York City as early as the following century."
9 comments:
Obviously, contrary to the author's opinion, if Hamlet's been performed on Broadway 66 times throughout a period of over 200 years, it must be doing something right. No one would continue to produce a show if they felt everyone would hate it. I'd like someone to name a single musical that has been reprised that many times on Broadway. The answer is none, because most Broadway musicals are the same content rehashed every 10 years in fluffy productions. Like every show, without proper execution the play that is Hamlet will not come together. I feel if done properly, with any play and especially Shakespeare, this production could be extremely entertaining and thought provoking to watch.
I had no idea that Hamlet had been performed so many times in New York. I agree that musicals are very much the same content. Audiences expect a certain take on the musical. But with Shakespeare, there are many ways to present it. But, imagine taking something like Grease and setting it in a different time period; it just wouldn't work the same way. I find it interesting that rival productions of Hamlet were produced at the same time, because of the opportunities of originality it gives. I would like to see how those productions differed.
I agree with mrstein, but one has to realize that although many people go because they do appreciate Shakespeare, I'm sure there are some who go because there is a certain status in going to a Shakespeare play. The same goes for producing one. A show like Hamlet is difficult to get right. I'm sure some of the 65 past productions were mediocre at best. One should take into account how long the show actually stays on Broadway; musicals like The Lion King, or Phantom have been there for years and years, Hamlet will only be up for a few months. There is an appeal for directors, actors, designers, etc to put on Shakespeare because it is such a challenge, and to be one of the few to do an amazing production is a appealing accomplishment.
What is it about Hamlet that allows it to be performed so many times and not feel old or run down? It could be the story, the writing, the humanity, or simply that the play has so many points of view from which to tell it. There are so many unanswered questions buried, although sometimes not very deeply, in to the text of Shakespeare's longest play that artists have the opportunity to see in in a fresh light every time they produce it (and audiences every time they see it) so one is always discovering more about the work. How, then, does the play combat the stigmas that surround most of Shakespeare's work as stuffy and incomprehensible? This problem lies solely in the hands of the producing team and artists working on the show. Make it relevant and they will understand.
First off, I was very much unaware of Ralph Fiennes' 1995 appearance as Hamlet...*sigh* I wish I was older than 5 at the time so I could have seen, and forever been amazed. Chris, to followup on what you were saying, I would have to respectfully disagree. If I understand you correctly, each revival mostly depends upon the creative decisions, and that is what drives each production of Hamlet. While the creative team is important in any show (duh), I think the weight of Hamlet lies in the acting. Actually, this argument could apply to...99% of shows, but if the actor playing Hamlet fails, it all fails. If the set design sucks, the theatre geeks might be pissed off, but no one else will really care. Hamlet is about the delivery, and because the characters can be interpreted in so many different ways, the play does not get old. I absolutely love Hamlet and I think it's really the story and the different character interpretations that make all 66 productions such a huge treat for theatre goers.
I know Shakespeare's plays are very complex and difficult to follow at times, especially Hamlet, but I don't think that means that the author should go to see the newest production with trepidation. if it's performed badly and is boring, then that's the way it's going to be. I hate it when people go to a theatre already having formed an opinion, however large or small, about how the production is going to be. just because he's seen one production of Hamlet that wasn't the best doesn't mean all the others will be.
It is no surprise that Hamlet has now been produced 66 times in NYC. Hamlet is the go to show when your theatre needs to bring in bigger audiences, primarily because it is so well liked. I would be curious to see all the designs and acting styles of the lead on display side my side and see if certain decades have any patterns. In its dealings of the mind, Hamlet lends itself to open interpretation. I am curious just how open these 66 interpretations are from one another.
I find this article very interesting because I did not realize that Hamlet has been on Broadway 66 times now. To some it is the greatest play ever written, so in that sense I see its popularity. I love Shakespeare's plays. I think that I could work at a Shakespeare Festival and be happy my whole career. I took a Shakespeare seminar last year and it was one of the best classes I took in high school. I found it slightly amusing to read who all has played Hamlet in these productions.
I always wonder if some theaters produce Hamlet because they honestly feel that it is great show that they wish to explore theatrically, or if they are aware that it is a well known classic and they have an assured audience. I believe that Hamlet is definitely one of Shakespeare's shows that can be done this many times and still appear fresh and entertaining. This is because there are so many decisions design-wise that can be changed to create almost an entirely different show.
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