William Shakespeare’s

HAMLET

This paper presents a brief review regarding William Shakespeare’s HAMLET, a

play by Seventh Stage Productions, directed by Mel Magno.

I. CHARACTERS

 Hamlet, a young prince from Denmark who devoted his life avenging his

father’s death; the protagonist of the story.

 King Claudius, a shrewd, lustful, conniving king; uncle of Hamlet; the

majot antagonist of the story.

 Queen Gertrude, the beautiful Queen of Denmark, and mother to Hamlet;

wife of the late King Hamlet

 King Hamlet (of Denmark), Hamlet’s deceased father

 Horatio, Hamlet’s closest friend

 Ophelia, Hamlet’s past love interest, and daughter of Polonious

 Laertes, Ophelia’s older brother, and son to Polonious

 Polonius, advisor to King Claudius, father of both Ophelia and Laertes

 Fortinbras, Prince of Norway

Others:

 Acting Company

 The Grave Diggers

II. PLOT

HAMLET

Hamlet is a son of the Late King Hamlet who died for reasons that he allegedly

took his own life. Immediately after his death, Hamlet’s uncle, King Claudius marries his

mother, Queen Gertrude, and immediately took hold of the throne.

After several encounters by guards, his friend, Horatio, and he himself with the

ghost of his father, Hamlet eventually knew that his uncle murdered his father by

pouring poison in his ear. By this, Hamlet is further enraged an eventually plots to kill his

uncle.

By obsessing himself with plotting revenge, he seemed to act as a madman,

prompting his uncle, mother, and their advisor, Polonius, to hire someone to spy on him.

He acts madly, and without thinking that he eventually treats, Ophelia, Polonious

daughter rudely, that led him to conclude that Hamlet is madly in love with his daughter

causing him to warn his daughter to stay away from him.

Claudius sent Hamlet to England because he fears that he might kill him. But

before leaving, Hamlet convinces an acting company to reenact the scene where

Claudius murdered his father, causing to Claudius to be enraged and walk out. But

despite this, he does not admit the murder.

Hamlet killed Polonius accidentally, mistaking him for Claudius, when he is

spying on a conversation between Hamlet and his Mother. Hamlet regrets it. But

Claudius still sent him to England, plotting to kill him when came back.

Laertes, son of Polonius, learned about his father’s death and her sister turning

crazy, and eventually wanted revenge. Claudius and Laertes plotted for Hamlet’s death:
Laertes to challenge Hamlet into a dual, having the tip of Laertes’ sword with poison. As

a backup precaution, Claudius poisons the victory cup in case Hamlet wins.

But during the fight, Gertrude unknowingly drank into the cup. While Laertes,

losing to Hamlet, illegally scratches him with his sword to ensure Hamlet’s death. And

Hamlet, unknowingly swithches sword with Laertes and cuts, and poisoned him. The

queen dies, screaming that she has been poisoned, and Laertes, dying admits Claudius

treachery, Hamlet fatally stabs Claudius. Laertes dies. Hamlet began his death speech.

Horation tried to commit suicide, but Hamlet objected telling him to tell the story of king

Hamlet’s death. Fortinbras the prince of Norway, arrived and Hamlet’s last dying wish is

for him to become the new King of Denmark.

III. Reaction

The story line is a classic so it is expected that it’d be great, especially if a legend

in the art of writing weaved it. The story itself weaved a string of imagination and

mystery in the audiences’ minds. From understanding the reasons why people did what

they did in the story, to determining the personalities of each characters in the play

which made them all unique and interesting. The feeling of revenge, hurt, and

desperation was skillfully embedded in the story line. And with that, it can really be

considered a masterpiece, which, it is right now.

Technically, the play has been great. Despite some drawbacks in the sound

system and temperature inside the venue, the actors really played each of their

characters with so much heart that they didn’t care. The voice quality was good, their

diction and delivery were exceptional. The voice projection, too, is quite well practiced.
The blockings were pretty considered. There are just some troubles with the lightings,

especially when setting the dark ambiance of the venue. And sometimes, the smoke

effects are more than necessary. But despite of all of these, the production deserved

the credit for having actually done the play and performing it pretty well.
 “HAMLET”

A Seventh Stage Production

Reaction Paper

By

Riza O. Ponciano

BS Accountancy 3-1

Mrs. Jocelyn Legazpi

ENGL 6

October 5, 2010