Performance Choices

While preparing to perform the first scene where Hamlet talks to Claudius and Gertrude, we had to make many decisions on how to present the characters. The biggest decision was how to have Hamlet behave. In this scene, Hamlet can be a reserved but emotional character or he could be angry and aggressive. In order to show off his anger, we had created an angry version of Hamlet. We had Claudius talk in his usual kind-sounding tone, although he is not saying the kindest and dearest things, and lastly Gertrude had been talking in a most agreeing tone with Claudius. Gertrude's calm tone towards Hamlet would be one of the causes of Hamlet's anger.