Several years ago I saw a production of Hamlet which had the entire first scene cut from the play. I was appalled. How could anyone mess with Shakespeare? Hamlet is after all the perfect play, or as near to perfection as any drama can get. Others have tried to alter it and have failed or have been found wanting, how arrogant must you be to think your version is better? Too long perhaps? Oh dear, clearly the audience cannot be expected to sit down for nearly four hours and concentrate fully on one of the greatest works in the English language. And so on was my inner rant.
Sometimes there are extenuating circumstances making any changes reasonable, though I am sure there are few examples. There was a production of Hamlet in the mid eighteenth century where the actor playing Hamlet was indisposed and had no understudy. The theatre manager had to think quickly, he had a full house and a possible riot on his hands if he abandoned the play. He decided to proceed with the play Hamlet without… you guessed it, Hamlet. How this was achieved given that Hamlet is on stage about 90% of the time, I do not know.
Slightly earlier than this Hamlet without Hamlet was the inaugural production of Romeo and Juliet at the Norwich Theatre in 1758. The local newspaper, Chase’s Norwich Mercury advertised a ‘new’ version of Romeo and Juliet:
“The grand and magnificent theatre in the city, which is now finished, and to be opened on Tuesday, the 31st of this instant, (January, 1758), allowed by all connoisseurs and judges to be the most perfect and complete structure of the kind in this kingdom, &c. &c. The proprietor and company being resolved to entertain the city in the most correct manner, and with the elegance the structure requires. At the new theatre near Chapel field, this present Saturday, April 1st, will be presented a play called Romeo and Juliet, with the late alteration of the fifth act, in which all the virtuous characters of the play (except unfortunate Mercutio) are preserved alive, effected by nothing bordering upon the miraculous, but very natural and easy means. ‘Vice should ever merit punishment, and virtue rise predominant.'”
However —
“As there happened a great error in the first night’s representation in the fifth act of Romeo and Juliet, as lately altered, the scene of reconciliation between the families, being, through accident, almost entirely omitted, this is to acquaint any ladies or gentlemen who may chose to peruse it, that the MS. is ready to be produced, upon their taking the trouble to send for it, to Mr. MCClellans lodgings, Mr. Tooley’s, butcher, in the market place, Norwich.”
It appears that this alteration was abandoned. A wise choice from any theatre manager who wanted to avoid hisses, inflamed purists and stage invasions.
MJ Holman @mishjholman
