Earlier this week, I came across a quote by Sir Ian McKellen on performing Shakespeare that has completely stumped me. I thought I would share it with you and see if you can enlighten me.
McKellen said:
I don't make much distinction between being a stand-up comic and acting Shakespeare - in fact, unless you're a good comedian, you're never going to be able to play Hamlet properly.
Ok, I can understand that William Shakespeare wrote in a very direct, almost declamatory, way. Back then, the theater experience was very different and speeches had to read like this in order to hold the attention of the audience. Perhaps McKellen is suggesting that this is similar to the direct language of the modern stand-up?
Beyond that, I'm stuck! What does McKellen mean? What is he saying about performing Shakespeare and Shakespeare's Language? I welcome any help or thoughts you may have on this quote.
Comments
As with all quotes, McKellen’s must be considered in context.
Here is the full response he gave to Kenneth Plume of IGN FilmForce:
” I was a very hard worker, and I was determined to become better at the job in the way that I’ve just been describing – in a variety of parts and a variety of sorts of plays. I don’t make much distinction between being a stand-up comic and acting Shakespeare – in fact, unless you’re a good comedian, you’re never going to be able to play Hamlet properly. I didn’t go after the glamorous side of acting. I deliberately kept away from London theater for three years, I didn’t accept offers to work on television, I made no attempt to get into films… I was just busy trying to be a half-good theater actor, and that’s still my attitude today – although I’m now fortunate to do more than just theater. It’s always trying to get better at the job, and I always judge my success in a play or a movie – not just by “Did I do it well”, but “What did I learn from that?” Rather than the part, I still judge whether to accept a job by who’s directing it, have we got enough time to prepare it, who else is in it, how good is the script, and all those sort of things, because you’re always part of the collective process – and if the other people aren’t any good, than you’re unlikely to be good yourself.”
The quote, as I read it, has less to do with Shakespeare’s language and more to do with McKellen’s sense of work ethic. He makes no distinction between working as a stand-up comedian and performing one of the Bard’s greatest works. He goes on to suggest that the sense of humor and timing one might develop in stand-up would be essential in playing the complex character of Hamlet.
Both performance types have value and both excercise an actor’s breadth.
Interview source:
http://movies.ign.com/articles/035/035889p1.html
Yes, I thought Sir Ian was referring to timing before i read the context.
I totally agree with his statement. A well rounded actor brings all of her/his skills to play Shakespeare. Shakespeare is real life captured for all time (of the times) and in every day life we are not just one facet of the whole diamond.
Check out his recent ‘King Lear’ … brilliant and lovely.
Here seems to be ‘much ado about nothing’. In the first place Lee’s blog post is misleading and I must thank Claire for quoting in toto what Sir Ian has said. Simply stated – there is really no mystique abou good performance of a part by a player or good production of a Shakespeare play by a producer/director – a lot of dedicated hardwork should be put into your efforts, there should be no amateurism but professionalism about it. And his comment about a good performance of Hamlet reminds me of Shaw’s famous statement – Shakespeare was a divinity and a bore, now he is my fellow playwright.
I’m sure in order to face the Groundlings as an actor you had to be fresh, spontaneous and have a broad sense of comedy and tragedy. Shakespeare’s plays were performed in front of a very different audience and in a very different venue during his time period. It is still best performed with that in mind. I think that “Hamlet” sees the irony and sometimes the humor in his situation. If you only know tragedy you cannot understand the agony of it. An actor would have to understand and be able to be both comedy and tragedy in order to play any full, well-rounded character.
The comment is confusing when read out of context. I feel McKellen meant that, he will put forth all his efforts to do the best job he possibly can, whether as a comedian or as a Shakepearian actor. I also think he may have been sliding a joke in there as well. The dry humor, I see in that statement, is that acting a serious role in a Shakespear play, is really a pretty funny and pompous way to act in todays culture. You have to be able to laugh at yourself a little.