Photo courtesy of Joan Marcus

"He was not of an age, but for all time!" (Ben Jonson's To The Memory of My Beloved Master William Shakespeare, And What He Hath Left Us)

It has been said – by actors, scholars, and Shakespeare lovers the world over – that Hamlet is the greatest play in the English language.

Whether Hamlet is the greatest play or not, one thing is certain: Shakespeare's works are universal. They have been and are still performed around the globe in virtually every language. The ideas that Shakespeare's characters speak are thoughts that human beings from every time, of every age, and every culture.

I'll be honest, the first time I read Hamlet I was very intimidated. So, I think a good way to approach this play is to look at smaller pieces like the major soliloquies. This makes it much more manageable. Once I figured out what was going on in the major speeches, it was much easier to weave the story together.

Today, we had some expert assistance! Actor Michael Cumpsty tackled the role for the Classic Stage Company in 2005 and shared his wisdom and insight with us. Michael has appeared both on and off Broadway and it was a real treat to have a private reading of this great play from an extraordinary actor.

"The applause, delight, the wonder of our stage" (by Ben Jonson)

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