Dear Fellow Students, Your Opinions Interest Me. Tell me about... Hamlet.

After watching the two different versions, of the character Hamlet, given to us by Mr. Tangen. One can see that both actors interpret the part very differently. People in the audience will also interpret what the actors do differently. It would be good of me to form my own opinion about this video, but I will not. Instead, it is time the opinions of other people are viewed. To be a good actor, you have to be a good audience. It’s always interesting to see how each person interprets things differently in life.

One fellow blogger, Daniel Paredes, wrote about the different interpretations. He explained how in "Branagh version, Hamlet is more noble" and a "statuesque figure." He then compared how Tennant's version "Hamlet is a more vulgar and blunt character." This comparison, tells us about the character itself, and how the character is transformed depending on which actor it has been absorbed by. I agree with the blogger it is "amazing to see how great the difference can be between two of the actors portraying the same role."

The change in the way is interpreted is not solely based on what the actor wants to do with his part, but also what the director wants. I am sure that both men had some direction to what they were doing from others. This may be why the blogger, Laura Duarte, tells us that "it's safe to say that numerous versions of the play can exist." A whole entire plays existence is based on what the actors do, but that’s not all. Scenery, the props, the outfit, the hair, the makeup, and especially: the rehearsals, all add up to create a plays success or failure. All these different ideas are placed together to form the idea which is trying to be made, "In one, Hamlet wears a black turtleneck suite. In the other, he wears a pair of jeans and an orange t-shirt. Both Hamlets are in luxurious castles and represent the rich boy of the time." The blogger has decided to look at what makes the character what we understand. Every character is interpreted differently, but in the end, they are both trying to say the same thing, "Although they differ in looks, they both transmit Hamlet's rage toward his uncle, his mother, and the situation overall."

The way an actor expresses their emotions is another key factor, as the blogger Trina Crochan tells us, “It is as if the actors are unleashing all the bottled-up emotion and opinion Hamlet experiences. Also, both actors captured the anger Hamlet seems to continuously feel, and expressed it (with much shouting), bringing the script to life with their fervent tone of voice and energy-filled execution.” Expression is very important, without it, there is no character.
All these opinions justify what the viewer thinks of the different actors. Some may concentrate on their acting skills, other on their surroundings, and some on their emotions. What is important is that the message gets across to the viewer, so that they can understand what is being shown to them. Each person understands what the actors are doing differently, just like the actors interpret it in other ways.