In the first lines, Shakespeare tries to create a tense, nervous atmosphere. He does this with the use of short, snappy lines, they talk about the weather and the time - subjects which distract them and bear no relevance to the reason they're there because they are edgy and nervous: 'the air bites shrewdly, it is very cold', 'I think it lacks of twelve'. I had have the lines whispered loudly as the characters rub they're hands together to demonstrate the cold weather. The effect of the 'flourish of trumpets' is to shock the audience slightly from the quite tense atmosphere - a way of breaking the tension. I had the trumpets played quite loud to achieve this effect and afterwards I would have the characters talk louder so the audience can hear Hamlet's speach about the declining state of Denmark clearly.
I would have the ghost enter in a subtle way which still has a dramatic effect. I would have a gust of wind that blows the dry ice smoke, and as this happens a figure in shadow will slowly appear walking through the smoke - his image will not be revealed until is alone with Hamlet. When Horatio then speaks I would have him whisper his lines - signalling in the direction of the ghost with his arm. He will have fear in his voice but will not stutter. He will say the line quickly and sharply but pausing in the middle, 'Look... - it comes!'. In lines 39 - 57, Hamlet asks many questions - generally asking who or what the ghost is: 'be thou a spirit of health of goblin damned', whether he is good or evil and why is he there: 'Say why is this? Wherefore? What should we do?'. Hamlet is obviously scared and in panic and confusion - he asks many questions and doesn't wait for an answer. I would have the actor deliver these lines quite quickly and sharply to bring out the panic, I would have him use lots of body language to also display fear. In lines 56 - 57, 'with thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls? Say what is this? Wherefore? What should we do?' are short, direct questions. These should be delivered without taking breath - not waiting for an answer, this should show the audience how bewildered and panicked he is.
I would have Hamlet follow offstage after the ghost to get ready to be on the lower part of the stage for the next scene. I would have Horatio and Marcellus try to follow after him but stop before the edge of the curtain for a few seconds to discuss whether to follow Hamlet before leaving the stage after Hamlet. This part of the stage will then fade into black as a soft earie light appears on the lower, wooded part of the stage with more dry ice to create an earie scene, then Hamlet and the ghost appear onstage. I would have the ghost speak at a moderate speed so as not to bore the audience but to maintain the effect of the ghost. I would have him speak quite low but not too cliche of ghosts. I would have him speak quite monotone and with laboured breath - as if he is weak and tired, with many large intakes of breath. I would have him wearing robes fit for a king - but no crown to signify his loss of leadership. His clothes will be grey and covered in dust or some grey flour which should give off small clouds of dust when he moves. He will move slowly but smoothly - as if tired and weary. In lines 42 - 52 the ghost talks about his brother who killed him, I would have him deliver these lines very powerfully, with some form of new strength and hatred. I want the audience to be able to feel his anger and loathing. His voice would be raised and booming and his body language will be bigger before returning to the calm, weak state for the rest of his speach. At the end of the speech he leaves with the line 'Adieu, adieu, adieu. Remember me.' To make this line interesting I would have him increase the volume of his voice as he repeats 'adieu' then he will walk slowly to the side of the stage, turn around to whisper 'remember me' before turning around and leaving the stage. The full effect of this speach of this speach of the audience should be to demonstrate how powerful the previous kings hatred for his brother is and how vital it is that vengeance should be taken. Hamlets finishing lines certify they're joint hatred as he declares how he shall murder his uncle. 'It is 'adieu, adieu, remember me.' I have sworn't.'
Stage design is important in helping to create a powerful impact on the audience. My overall stage design would be a black backdrop with clouds to represent the stormy night. The stage will be quite simple with an occasional small bush with a wall with turrets at the back of the stage. To the right I would want a large tower-like structure on which the ghost will appear. The stage will consist of two levels - lower at the front and higher at the back. Hamlet and company will come from the left onto the higher part but he will go to talk to the ghost on the lower level, there will be steps connecting the two levels. There will be a level of dry ice about a foot high on the stage to create an eerie effect. The light will be rather dim to show that it's at night but still perfectly clear enough to see the characters and stage set, as the ghost comes in, I will keep it rather dim and have light coming from behind when the ghost appears so his image cannot be seen by the audience, only his sillohette. But in the part between Hamlet and the ghost, I will have a spotlight on the ghost so his image can be seen clearly. I will have Hamlet, Marcellus and Horatio wearing clothes typical of the period for people with wealth, although Hamlet will have the finest clothes being a member of the royal familey. As I previously stated I would have the ghost wearing grey, dusty robes of a kings quality. At the start there will be very quite background noise so Hamlet and company can be heard whispering, after the flourish of trumpets I will have the background noise increase in volume - it will be the sound of a windy storm and waves crashing as I feel the castle should be by the sea. As the ghost enters I would have the noise drop drastically to just a hollow wind sound to emphasize the ghosts appearence and so the groups nervous whisperings can be heard. When Hamlet follows the ghost to the lower area of the stage, I would have the sounds die down to a calmer, woodland sound with the occasional bird call like owls and rustling of leaves with small quiet gusts of wind. As the ghost talks about his brother I may have a low chord progression played on an instrument such as the violin to give a eerie, minor sound to increase the power of the scene. But the overall effect I wish to achieve through all this - the costume, lighting, scenery and props, sounds, music and how the characters generally act is for the scene to seem as dramatic and powerful as possible.
The supernatural plays a key element in Hamlet, therefore it is important to understand how it was relevant to the time Shakespeare was writing. Firstly - at this time there was still a great belief in the supernatural. Witchcraft was punishable by death and in general people were intruiged by it. Therefore it made itmore appealing and popular to audiences. Secondly, James I was very interested in whichcraft and the supernatural. The king was also Shakespeares patron. Therefore it was in Shakespeares interest to include elements that James liked, to ensure that his patronage continued. The third reason relates to the death of his son - Hamnet. He died in 1596 and Hamlet was written between 1600 and 1605. After his son's death, Shakespeare became slightly obsessed with life and death. It was at this time that the darker tradgedies were written. Shakespeare used the ghosts to express his opinion that communication could take place between the living and the dead. It is no coincidence that Hamnet is so similar to Hamlet.
