Hamlet Act 4 acting

Wesley

February 4-8, 2016

Note 1:  I am cancelling log # 10; your personal insight paper proposal due tomorrow replaces that

Note 2: Act 4 quiz will be only 5 questions for a total of 10 points.

Note 3: Hand in logs 7-9 now!

Act 4 Acting Objectives:

·         To explore Act 4 through scenes that involve a variety of characters – not just Hamlet.

·         To do close reading of the lines, so that we understand them in depth.

·         To have fun with the movement and language of a Shakespearean play

Roles: Actors and Master of Ceremony

·         Actors (self-explanatory)

·         Master of Ceremony:  Dramatically introduces the scene, providing a summary of what will happen, and any additional info that will be needed by the audience to help them understand the scene.  Assemble

Directions:

Today

1.      Assemble with your group. Introduce yourselves.

2.      Read the scene a number of times (at least three) round-robin style - stopping between readings to review line meanings, vocabulary, look up words in an online Shakespearean dictionary -  to get familiar with the gist of it.

3.      Decide who will play what role.

Tonight:

·         Write your personal insight proposal paper.

·         Practice your lines tonight. You want to know them well. You don’t have to memorize them by Monday, but you should have them close memorized so you can be really fluent and deliver them in the dramatically appropriate tone, pace, and volume. The delivery of your lines should sound natural.

·         Think about props and costumes and corny and/or subtle movements and pantomimes that will help convey your scene to the audience.

Tomorrow:

·         As a group, write a fairly detailed summary of the scene to  be presented dramatically (or at least loudly) by the narrator/master of ceremony.

·         Rehearse the scene, making sure to really think about how people will move, stand, kneel, lose their tempers or minds, etc.  How can you use desks/ chairs/ podiums as props? What props will you bring in? How will your costumes convey who your characters are?

Weekend:

 Continue rehearsing and finding prompts and costumes

Read through Act 5.1-2

Monday:

Perform scenes

Group 1: Four people

Period 7:__Kay, Brenden, Lara, Stephanie

Period 8:___Paul, Frannie, Cullen, 

4.1 Gertrude tells the King about Polonius’s death

King, 34; Queen, 12; Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, 0

4.2 Hamlet refuses to tell where Polonius’s body is

Hamlet (21), gentleman, 1; Rosencrantz, 8; Guildenstern, 1

Group 2: Four people

Period 7:_Lyrik, Niko, Emily, Tara, _

Period 8: Claudia, Morgan, Isaac, Rachel, Kim

4.3  Claudius sends Hamlet to England

King, 46; Rosencrantz, 4; Hamlet, 27

4.4 Hamlet encounters Fortinbras

Fortinbras, 8; Captain, 12; Hamlet, 47; Rosencrantz, 1

Group 3: Eight people

Period 7: ____Ben, John, Vicki, Albert, Brandon, Jack, Mary, Jacob P, Chloe, Nick

Period 8: Sarah, Griffin, Erica, Marina, Michael, Alexis, Maddie, Kelsey, George, Megan

4.5 The appearance of the mad Ophelia is disturbing to Laertes, the King, and Gertrude

Queen, 16; Gentleman, 15; Horatio, 3; Ophelia, 75; King, 71; Messenger, 11; Laertes, 50; Others, 2

Group 4: Four People

Period 7:___Jacob B, Becca, Kyle, Alison, Maiya_

Period 8:___ Sam, Dan, Maeve, Colin,, Emilio  

4.6 Horatio receives a letter from Hamlet

Horatio, 27; Gentleman, 2; Sailor 5

4.7 Claudius and Laertes plot to kill Hamlet in a duel

King, 146; Laertes, 47; Messenger, 6; Queen, 22