Casting and design choices, with this one :)
I’m not done talking about that awesome English project I spent way too much time on!
As a recap, if you haven’t read or lightly skimmed part 1, my English teacher told us to create our own version of Hamlet that emphasizes particular themes through casting, design, and other directorial choices. I went with a Jewish version, that doesn’t change any of the original text of the play, but heavily implies that Hamlet’s father is a dybbuk that possesses the titular character and controls her actions (and Hamlet is a woman).
One thing I thought I'd share today is the cast list, and I tried to cast people who have Jewish backgrounds, according to the internet. But I’m not sure how reliable that information is, and I don’t know much about these actors. So if anything’s wrong or harmful, let me know and I’ll change it! I just thought this would be a fun project to share. I found all the headshots on IMDb or Wikipedia, but Alex Chester's photo is from her website https://www.alexchester.com/.
(Side note-- in the directions for this project, my teacher told us time was malleable, so we could cast actors who have already passed away, or cast younger versions of actors who are older now.)
Hamlet- Shelly Skadrani
“Oh what a noble mind is here o'erthrown!”
-Ophelia, about Hamlet
Hamlet is a bold young woman who centers her identity on doing what is “noble.” Enraged by the corruption in her country and personal betrayal she feels by Claudius and Gertrude’s marriage, she soon discovers a completely unexpected horror: Hamlet’s dead father has taken over control of her very being. Hamlet must either fight to take back control, or helplessly watch herself cause harm to her loved ones and her country.
Skadrani’s strong background in both theater and anthropology have prepared her to play a Hamlet who wrestles with even more social issues and supernatural phenomena than your typical prince of Denmark.
Claudius- Rachel Weisz
“But oh, what form of prayer
Can serve my turn? ‘Forgive me my foul muder’?
That cannot be, since I am still possessed
Of those effects for which I did the murder,
My crown, my own ambition, and my queen.”
Claudius, the newly crowned monarch of Denmark, has everything she ever wanted, for herself and her country. She’s done what she believed she had to do in order to get it. Now, though, she’s not so sure her actions won’t haunt her forever. She’s also not so sure her niece (now daughter), Hamlet, will hold her tongue, as Claudius previously expected.
Gertrude- Emmanuelle Chriqui
“Oh Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain.”
Gertrude’s life has gone through countless changes in a very short time. A generation older than Hamlet and her peers, Gertrude processes change by stepping back from politics and reaching out to those around her for connection rather than aggression. One shock she isn’t prepared to deal with, however, is her daughter’s extreme and uncharacteristic behavior. Chriqui portrays a mother eager to keep the peace, but utterly out of her depth.
Ophelia- Alyson Hannigan
“Oh woe is me / T’have seen what I have seen, see what I see.”
Sweet, caring Ophelia has grown up surrounded by people who adore and support her– her father Polonius, her sister Laertes, and her friend and lover Hamlet. Now, she finds herself surrounded by people who want to influence, even control her, instead– an unrecognizable Hamlet, a Laertes going too far in her efforts to protect her, and eventually the unhinged ghost of Polonius who drags his daughter down with him.
Alyson Hannigan’s experience playing a nerdy, lovable bisexual witch on Buffy the Vampire Slayer prepares her well for this role all about love, friendship, and ghosts.
Laertes- Sarah Michelle Gellar
“How came he dead? I’ll not be juggled with.”
A talented and bright young lady, a loyal daughter, and a fiercely protective older sister, Laertes finds herself trapped in Denmark’s infuriating affairs instead of pursuing her passions. She carries herself with the gravitas of a king, so much so that the general public is drawn to the idea of her in charge, but unfortunately for those die-hard Laertes fans, she’s willing to hear Claudius out.
Sarah Michelle Gellar is perfect for this role, not least because of her fight scene experience and sisterly chemistry with Alyson Hannigan from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Polonius- William Shatner
“Affection? Puh! You speak like a green girl…”
Does anyone remember the episode “The Enemy Within” of Star Trek: The Original Series? In case you don’t, here’s the gist: a transporter malfunction splits Captain Kirk into two doppelgangers. One is the beloved captain of the Enterprise, well-meaning though he lacks his usual confidence and authority to effectively lead his crew (so he comes across as a bit silly). The other Kirk is, well… chaotically evil. But at least he knows what he wants.
William Shatner’s Polonius is basically both Kirks from that episode. Polonius in life is goofy– get ready for enjoyable antics that border on “over-acting”! But once he loses his life in Denmark’s upheaval, the dybbuk version of Polonius is much more sinister.
Alex Chester- Horatio
“And let me speak to th’yet unknowing world
How these things came about. So shall you hear
Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts,
Of accidental judgements, casual slaughters..”
Horatio is the one companion Hamlet trusts to always stand by her, a fact well known to Horatio herself and one she takes pride in. But this closeness blinds her. While others insist Hamlet is not herself and attempt to pry, or alter Hamlet’s behavior, Horatio’s still there to cheer on the girl she thinks is Hamlet, offering unconditional love and support. By the time Horatio accepts that something’s wrong in Act V and tries to stop the duel, it’s too late. She’ll need some therapy.
The Gravedigger- Jeff Goldblum
“One that was a woman sir, but rest her soul she’s dead.”
The gravedigger is just here to vibe. He technically has a job to do, and he’ll get around to it eventually, but he’s also happy to stop and chat with any passers-by in the cemetery.
It’s just Jeff Goldblum hanging out for a couple scenes, and then he books it before things really go to hell in Act V.
The Ghost- Leonard Nimoy
“If thou didst ever thy dear father love–
Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.”
Leonard Nimoy, well known for playing Spock in Star Trek, is highly capable of playing a character close to humanity, but not quite part of it. The ghost was once a charismatic king, but now he’s something unnatural and evil. He flips, seemingly at random, between laser-like focus on revenge and the absurd, lewd chaos commonly associated with dybbuks. This ghost pulls at family ties as much as he can to get what he wants, but he holds little to no regard for Hamlet’s well-being in the process of possessing her.
Rosencrantz- Kat Dennings
Hamlet: “I know the good king and queen have sent for you.”
Rosencrantz: “To what end my lord?”
Hamlet: “That you must teach me.”
Rosencrantz responds to Gertrude and Claudius’ summons with her friend Guildenstern, thinking she can help smooth things over with a friendly heart-to-heart or two and go back to University with everyone happy. Unfortunately… this Hamlet is the complete opposite of the person Rosencrantz remembers befriending.
Marvel fans will note the similarities between this performance from Dennings and her popular character Darcy Lewis from Wandavision and the Thor movies.
Guildenstern- Lauren London
“Why look you now how unworthy a thing you make of me. You would play upon me, you would seem to know my stops, you would pluck out the heart of my mystery…”- Hamlet, to Guildenstern
Guildenstern’s excited to be traveling with her friend Rosencrantz, though the circumstances could be better– their friend’s dad recently died, and she’s not coping well. Lauren London’s Guildenstern shows reluctance to go behind Hamlet’s back (mostly nonverbally since she’s loathe to challenge authority outright) and even bursts into tears after Hamlet directly confronts her.
So, that was the casting list! How about the design board?
There’s a Pinterest board, of course. You’ll see quite a lot of dark academia fashion, as well as fancy library settings. My idea with the library was for the set of the play to look like a sophisticated, regal library representing Elsinore Castle. But as the play goes on and Hamlet’s struggle against her father (the “madness” aspect of a typical production) intensifies, it feels more cluttered and chaotic, with heaps of books lying around, actors ripping out pages and discarding them on the floor, etc. I don’t know, I just thought it would be cool. Plus, I personally associate Jewishness with books, research, and debate, so it felt appropriate to me for my “Jewish Hamlet.”
Well, that's all I've got right now! Thanks for checking it out.