Bit Parts, or Everybody Else
The Ghost and the Night Watch
The guards (L and C), nightwatchmen, patrol the walls of Elsinore, first see the ghost
The ghost (R), Hamlet's dead father, returns to reveal the circumstances of his death
The guards both wear khaki bases with thick coats to protect them from the cold night. The khaki coat on the L guard is a re-purposed blazer that made an admirable coat. He, being the funnier of the two, also wore the funny fur hat.
The ghost was imagined looking like the classic forties spy, with the trench coat collar high around his face and his hat pulled low. A regular pale ghost would not fit in the Soviet concept, so the idea was to cover all his skin except the lower half of his face, by means of a trench coat, gloves, and hat. The scarf added to the trench coat collar, because unfortunately the coat was a little small and the collar didn't cover on its own.
The ghost (R), Hamlet's dead father, returns to reveal the circumstances of his death
The guards both wear khaki bases with thick coats to protect them from the cold night. The khaki coat on the L guard is a re-purposed blazer that made an admirable coat. He, being the funnier of the two, also wore the funny fur hat.
The ghost was imagined looking like the classic forties spy, with the trench coat collar high around his face and his hat pulled low. A regular pale ghost would not fit in the Soviet concept, so the idea was to cover all his skin except the lower half of his face, by means of a trench coat, gloves, and hat. The scarf added to the trench coat collar, because unfortunately the coat was a little small and the collar didn't cover on its own.
The Players
Who put on a play that causes the king to unwittingly reveal his guilt in the death of Hamlet's father
The players all wear the same all gray with knee-high black boots. The boots with tucked-in pants were meant to evoke Elizabethan breeches, as well as the Russian Cossacks. The simple costume allowed many of the actors to easily transform into other characters, since many of them were double cast.
The First Player (L), the players' spokesman, wears a hat to indicate his role
The players all wear the same all gray with knee-high black boots. The boots with tucked-in pants were meant to evoke Elizabethan breeches, as well as the Russian Cossacks. The simple costume allowed many of the actors to easily transform into other characters, since many of them were double cast.
The First Player (L), the players' spokesman, wears a hat to indicate his role
The Gravediggers
Who reveal Ophelia's death and provide slight comic relief
Both gravediggers were also Players, so they wear the same base. On top they have mismatched coats and mismatched hats. The one on the left was more comic and therefore wears more ragged and ill-fitting clothes. The actress also chose to have a black eye for her character, which does not appear here.
Both gravediggers were also Players, so they wear the same base. On top they have mismatched coats and mismatched hats. The one on the left was more comic and therefore wears more ragged and ill-fitting clothes. The actress also chose to have a black eye for her character, which does not appear here.
Military Personnel
Osric (L), a squire, carries the swords for Hamlet's and Laertes's fight
Fortinbras (C), a Norwegian prince
The Captain (R), one of Fortinbras's men
Osric wears a zipped black shirt with military-style chest pockets, and khaki riding breeches with brown boots. The look of the breeches, somewhat out of synch with the normal pants of the others, matches the historical mismatch of sword fighting in the Soviet block, making Osric congruous with himself.
Fortinbras and the Captain both wear military jackets. Fortinbras also wears a tie underneath, and combined with his more ornate jacket, this indicates his higher rank. Both jackets had unsightly patches on the sleeves, which were covered with red and blue patches loosely based on the Norwegian flag.
Fortinbras (C), a Norwegian prince
The Captain (R), one of Fortinbras's men
Osric wears a zipped black shirt with military-style chest pockets, and khaki riding breeches with brown boots. The look of the breeches, somewhat out of synch with the normal pants of the others, matches the historical mismatch of sword fighting in the Soviet block, making Osric congruous with himself.
Fortinbras and the Captain both wear military jackets. Fortinbras also wears a tie underneath, and combined with his more ornate jacket, this indicates his higher rank. Both jackets had unsightly patches on the sleeves, which were covered with red and blue patches loosely based on the Norwegian flag.
And a few others
Gentleman (L), a servant of the court. Dressed simply and neutrally
Priest (LC), presides over Ophelia's funeral. Dressed all in black with a priestly coat. The actress's hair was unpredictable and changed color several times during the rehearsal process, fortunately stabilizing at this fairly natural shade.
The ambassadors (RC and R), from Elsinore to England. Both wear khaki blazers and shirts with dark pants, to be coordinated but not identical.
Priest (LC), presides over Ophelia's funeral. Dressed all in black with a priestly coat. The actress's hair was unpredictable and changed color several times during the rehearsal process, fortunately stabilizing at this fairly natural shade.
The ambassadors (RC and R), from Elsinore to England. Both wear khaki blazers and shirts with dark pants, to be coordinated but not identical.
