Context:
Act 3 scene 4 is usually referred to as The Closet scene since
it takes place in Gertrude's private chamber. During the last
century it has been popular to imply a sexual tension between
Hamlet and Gertrude; for the closet scene to be played in
this way there is almost always a large bed dominating the
scene. Toby Stephens and Sian Thomas chose NOT to go down
this well trodden path. In this production a single chair
was used and it was decided Polonius might position Gertrude,
stage-managing the eavesdropping much as he had with Ophelia
in the nunnery scene.
Sian Thomas and Clive Wood agreed that there would have been
a lot of sexual tension between Gertrude and Claudius, but
that their relationship was based on lust as opposed to love.
From Claudius' perspective it was also based on political
expediency; the marriage secured his position as new king.
For Sian Thomas, Gertrude's journey to her death begins in
this scene with the growing realization that Claudius is not
the man she thought he was. |
