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Characters In The Play |
| Claudius |
Andy Hodgson |
| Hamlet |
Ray Rumkee |
| Polonius |
Jenny Stewart |
| Horatio |
Janet Bartle |
| Laertes |
Jonathan Preston |
| Osric |
Steve Clappison |
| Marcellus |
Tanya Platten |
| Bernardo |
Val Howell |
| Francisco |
Steve Clappison |
| Gravedigger |
Edward Dixon |
| Players |
Val Howell |
| a |
Tanya Platten |
| a |
Steve Clappison |
| Gertrude |
Ailsa Oliver |
| Ophelia |
Miranda van Rossum |
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Directed & Abridged by Ray Rumkee |
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| Directors Commentary |
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How I came to play Hamlet as well
as directing it is rather complicated but let's just say that necessity rather than rampant egomania was
the main force ... well, alright, maybe a BIT of rampant egomania.
I found out, rather too late, that the guy I had cast as the Dane, although a nice guy
and no mean actor, was (shall we say) a wee bit unreliable and had been
chucked out of a previous Chameleon production of the eve of performance.
I had to make a choice of scrapping it or putting on the, admittedly very
slimming, black gear myself, although I found it the most difficult thing I
have ever done in the theatre and I am looking to just being a jobbing player
in the next few productions.
It was lovely to work with Ailsa again for the first time in over a decade.
Andy, Janet, Steve, Jonathan and all the rest gave 100 per cent and did me,
and the group, proud. Maurice provided one of his finest scores, and I got the
chance to go 'wibble' again. What more could I ask for? Ray |
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| Was I In That One? |
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Janet cleared
off after 'Hamlet' to travel the world for a year,
taking in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and
Australia. She sent us regular emails from her to
keep us up to date on her progress. (Let's hope
she's not having any 'Nam flashbacks!) It was also the
last we saw of Tanya, though we're pretty sure she
isn't travelling the world. |
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| Quote, Unquote |
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My
recollections of being involved with 'Hamlet' - getting to wear the most fabulous
costume, playing my husband's mother (what would Freud have made of that??),
the bruises on Miranda's arms where
Ray had taken realism a bit far when he had to get hold of
her, and my friend from work still
talking about how the goblet in the final scene rolled
round on the floor and he stopped it with his foot. (There
are other memories I will carry with me, but nothing I'd
want to see on the Website!!) Ailsa
I think I got in touch with my masculine side,
playing Polonius in a frock! And let's hear it for Ed in his (green?) string
vest! Jenny
This
was one of those productions where you get to the end and you think, "Yeah we
actually did it" and you get a great big 'Ready Brek' glow of
satisfaction. Miranda was genuinely disturbing when Ophelia went mad,
and Ed stole the play as the gravedigger. One
other thing: I felt real sympathy for Ray having to learn
all those ruddy lines. Hamlet does witter on...
Andy
"Stage
diving with a difference" or "How Miranda mistook 'exit stage right' for 'exit
stairs right' and managed to get herself a nice pair of black and blue knees
into the bargain" Miranda |
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