Spectating: A Feminist Twist on Hamlet Performed in Shakespeare's Globe

Directed and starring Michelle Terry, Shakespeare's Globe's staging of Hamlet, asks much of the average theatre-goer: 1. To interpret ; 2. Listen carefully ; and 3. Enjoy the play in its original medium, but unoriginal choice of actors/actresses for specific roles. The paragraphs that follow will focus on how Michelle Terry's performance and directing of Hamlet changed the play in various ways, but still created an outstanding and accurate depiction of the play. In the end it will become apparent that experienced acting and directing drove this particular production, and how the accentuation of movement and music were utilized as a crutch.

The most obvious detail in this depiction was Michelle Terry's role as Hamlet, and Shubham Saraf's role as Ophelia. One of the main reasons why there was controversy on Michelle Terry's take over as the main director of the play was because wanted to change the dynamic of the gender roles of the play in order to encompass the fact that women have only had rights in England for a short amount of time. Her choice angered many critiques, and their defense was the fact Shakespeare had the gender of the characters in the play match their actors. Michelle Terry's choice to swap the genders of these significant characters did definitely change the spectators visual and emotional connection to the romance being depicted. Since Terry changed this aspect of the Shakespearean play she had to accentuate other aspects of the play such as the music, voice projection, and dramatizing of movement.

In the first half of the play Terry was extremely animated and energetic in all aspects of her acting. Although she might have lost some of this energy by the second half of the play, Terry's eccentricism created complexity in the relationship between characters that made up for the visual confusion. The music also played a key role in moving the plot forward without having awkward pauses between transitions, and kept a lively feeling through out the times when action was minimal. Through utilizing these elements Terry was able to create an enticing play that still gave off the correct emotions to the spectator, but utilized an unoriginal medium of the play. Michelle Terry changed how Shakespeare's plays are interpreted at the source, and watching this play was a once in a lifetime opportunity that was bigger than just the play of Hamlet.

Through this major change in gender roles for actors Michelle Terry's capability to adapt as a director and actress was challenged. She was able to make due by creating an emotional sensation through music, projection of voices, and meaningful movement through out the play. The combined efforts of all actors and actresses involved allowed for the recreation of Hamlet to be original, yet respectful of Shakespeare's intended themes.