HamletS -- Theatrical Performance Archives

GUIDED TOUR 2: THE NUNNERY SCENE

This scene shows how the deconstruction can take place in the performance rather than in the manipulation of the text. The dialogue only leaves out a few lines from the original, the twist is having 5 Hamlets storming on Ophelia, while she is being used as a tool, a pupper, by Claudius and Polonius. The metaphor becomes visual, so that the manipulation is conspicuous, as well as how Ophelia breaks down when her father and the king do not need her any more. You can also compare it with Shakespeare's original text

Original Scene text

The Script text

The Nunnery Scene

Rehearsal Stills
Photos by Penkai Peng

Aaron Moronez (Claudius) and Dan Katz (Polonius) practise their movements to take and lift Helen Lui (Ophelia) to the ground.

Ophelia walks and moves her limbs as marked by Claudius and Polonius--she moves as a puppet.Richard Colton choreographs her collapse as a broken doll.

The Nunnery Scene

"I'll loose my daughter to him"

"My lord, I have rememberances of yours"

"Are you honest?"

"I'm proud, revengeful, ambitious"

"If thou dost marry, I'll give thee this plage for thy dowry"

"Woe is me"

Production Stills
Photos by Ben Solish

Claudius and Polonius seize Mad Hamlet, which transforms into Ophelia. Ophelia is horrified, her role of puppet has been thrown upon her and there is no escape.

Ophelia begs Romantic Hamlet for help, painfully trying to live up what Claudius and Polonius are imposing on her.

All the other Hamlets attack Ophelia, in seeing that she is not herself, but obviously an envoy of the King and her father.

The King and Polonius use Ophelia to face every enraged Hamlet. She is now a real puppet, both men move her limbs and guide her movements.

'Woe is me...': Ophelia collapses on the ground, a broken doll, torn by the ruthless manipulation of her father and Claudius. 'This is I, Hamlet the Dane?'

Production Video Clips