Act 3 Scene 1, interaction between Hamlet and Ophelia. The setting of this scene is wildly different in the two versions. Kenneth chose the setting to be a large room in the palace, full of doors that are decorated by full size mirrors. Hawke chose the setting to be a small room, presumably in Hamlet’s apartment, and as opposed to doors with mirrors there are windows. Hawke’s setting brings a sense of intimacy, while Kenneth’s version brings a sense of absurdity. The clothing choices of the two directors are surprisingly similar. In Kenneth’s version, Hamlet wears a white undershirt and all black besides it, while Ophelia wears a red dress. In Hawke’s version, Hamlet wears a black sweater, and Ophelia wears a red coat and white undershirt.
…show more content…
Kenneth’s Hamlet is far more crazy. Initially, he is sweet and loving toward Ophelia, gently kissing her and speaking to her softly. After realizing that Ophelia wants to leave the relationship, he slaps her hand and speaks harshly with a twisted face, and, upon hearing a suspicious sound, forcefully drags her around the large room, opening and closing all doors. At one point, he slams Ophelia against a mirror in rage, then suddenly changes his mood and very sweetly kisses her. In the end, he leaves Ophelia half lying in a doorway and simply exits, while Ophelia lies red-faced and sobbing. Overall, his actions seem exceedingly strange, especially when he repeatedly switches from one extreme emotion to another. The discontinuity is not really realistic. Hawke’s Hamlet is more normal. When Ophelia returns his love letters, he does not react with anger or violence, but rather with softly spoken words. His speech is abridged by a lot, and that made the phrases “I loved you once. You should not have believed me. I loved you not” escalate much more quickly and dramatically than in Hawke’s version even though he delivers the words with less passion. A good example of this contrast is the first time he says “get thee to a nunnery.” Unlike in Kenneth, Hawke’s Hamlet speaks not with anger but with gentle gestures and a small, sad laugh. Even when he discovers that Ophelia has a voice recorder on her in the middle of their
Kenneth’s Hamlet is far more crazy. Initially, he is sweet and loving toward Ophelia, gently kissing her and speaking to her softly. After realizing that Ophelia wants to leave the relationship, he slaps her hand and speaks harshly with a twisted face, and, upon hearing a suspicious sound, forcefully drags her around the large room, opening and closing all doors. At one point, he slams Ophelia against a mirror in rage, then suddenly changes his mood and very sweetly kisses her. In the end, he leaves Ophelia half lying in a doorway and simply exits, while Ophelia lies red-faced and sobbing. Overall, his actions seem exceedingly strange, especially when he repeatedly switches from one extreme emotion to another. The discontinuity is not really realistic. Hawke’s Hamlet is more normal. When Ophelia returns his love letters, he does not react with anger or violence, but rather with softly spoken words. His speech is abridged by a lot, and that made the phrases “I loved you once. You should not have believed me. I loved you not” escalate much more quickly and dramatically than in Hawke’s version even though he delivers the words with less passion. A good example of this contrast is the first time he says “get thee to a nunnery.” Unlike in Kenneth, Hawke’s Hamlet speaks not with anger but with gentle gestures and a small, sad laugh. Even when he discovers that Ophelia has a voice recorder on her in the middle of their