Pictorial Shakespeare, 1880-1890 - eTheses Repository - University ...

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"paddock" (Theoualrl*s emendation), and after the hysterical
"impromptus" (to which The Stage referred, mysteriously, as
Barrett's "only point") Hrmlet sank into Horatio's arms 26 .
"You might have rhymed" was cut - Irving had ellowed Horatio
this touch of humorous detachment, but Barrett felt the need
to preserve a aerious tone.
In the business with the recorders, Barrett f s Hamlet
was at his most suave, restraining his impatience in order
to "quietly rebuke" Rosencrantz and Guildenstern with the
pipe, which, The Ti^.es remarkod, some tragedians were "accustomed
to snap in two in an uncontrollable fury". Booth and
Irving both took the pipe, snapped it, and flung the pieces
from them. Barrett, when oummoned to speak v;ith uertrude,
left the stage cautiously, looking round him in the shadows,
and then, in the porch through v/hich he rauut pass, whipping oiit
his sv/ord and stabbing at the darkness.
The third ocone of the act bec-'-n with Claudius's brief
instructions to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and Polonius's
news that Hamlet is going to his mother's closet, and will
be overheard. Rosencrantz's lecture on politics ("The single
and peculiar life is bound..*") vras omitted, but the scene
was much longer than that given by Irving, v/ho had cut Polonius's
appearance, Hamlet's arrive:! during Claudius's prayer, and
a good pert of the King's speech.
?P
At the '-rincesB's,Polonius's
departure was followed by Claudius drav/ing asit'e a
curtain to reveal a cnrll altar (prompt-copy). Punch mocked
"a brilliant coverlet and a gaudily painted cr.ico" in thic
oratory - evidently a further example of Godwin's volley of
using bri •.•.rbl.y coloured properties and hangings against a
dr.rk background, ./illard, given a chance to aovelop Claudius'c
character usually denied the rotor, spoke hie :oliloquy
"admirably" - as Scott described it. Gocwin's rehearsal notos
include "cJ-,3cch by kneeling king too ^ao;. ion .to and too
jerky".
The scene nov; changed to Gertrude'c car nbor - "Grs c!o-.vn",
as the pronnt-copy remind, us. Bavrctt urjocl III.4, followed
without change of location by IV.1 and 3. He onitted IV.2 and
4. Irving had onittod IV.1 - Claudius and Gertrude - and
everything before IV.5, v/liich began hie fourth ret.