Day: December 22, 2017

“Dumbshows and Noise:” Hamlet and The Problem of Audience

[5-7 minute read] During Act 3 of Hamlet, while preparing the travelling players for the evening’s performance, Hamlet provides the actor’s company with a lengthy speech concerning the proper methods of acting he would like them to employ. During the speech, he makes a note on clowns, saying “and let those that play/ your clowns speak