S moktunovsky and english

In 1964 the film-director Grigory Kozintsev shot the brilliant screen-version of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” with Innokenty Smoktunovsky in the leading role. The music was composed by the great Russian composer Dmitry Shostakovich.

While at work on “Hamlet” Smoktunovsky started to learn English. One day Kozintsev came to his place on some business and saw a strange piece of paper, covered with coloured symbols, on the wall over his desk. Kozintsev thought that it looked like a geographical map. He asked the actor what it was. Smoktunovsky explained to him that he had been studying English for a few months already. He told Kozintsev that English grammar was very difficult and he hoped that this table would help him to master it. Smoktunovsky said that he wanted to learn English well enough to be able to read Shakespeare in the original.

Words & Expressions:

to shoot (shot) – снимать фильм

to compose – сочинять, писать (музыку)

to master – овладевать, усваивать

in the original – в оригинале, на языке оригинала

Questions:

1. What is your attitude towards classical art?

2. What makes the role of Hamlet so attractive to all actors?

3. Have you seen the film “Hamlet” with Smoktunovsky in the leading role?

4. What is your opinion of Smoktunovsky’s performance of the role?

5. What do you think of contemporary treatments of Hamlet?

6. When did Smoktunovsky begin to study English?

7. What did the actor say about English grammar?

8. How did Smoktunovsky explain the purpose of his studies?

Theatre traditions

Actors have lots of traditions and superstitions. For example, you don’t say “good luck” to an actor. You say “break a leg”. It’s strange but true. “Good luck” is bad luck. Also, actors never say the name of Shakespeare’s famous play ‘Macbeth’. They always call it ‘The Scottish Play’. In theatres the name Macbeth brings bad luck.

A third tradition is about whistling. You must never whistle in a theatre dressing room. Someone who whistles must go out of the room and turn around three times. Only after that, a person can knock on the door and come in again.

Interviewing an actor

Correspondent: What is your ambition?

Actor: To play Hamlet on the stage.

Correspondent: Why do you want to play this role?

Actor: I am fond of Shakespeare. I have even started studying English to be able to read Shakespeare in the original.

Correspondent: Have you seen Laurence Olivier’s performance of the role?

Actor: I have, and ever since I have been dreaming of performing this role myself. I hope that Olivier’s work will help me a lot. His artistic interpretation of Hamlet is very specific and concrete, and it makes me think that there can be other Hamlets.

Correspondent: And what do you think about contemporary productions of Shakespeare?

Actor: I prefer the productions of Shakespeare in Elizabethan costumes. In my opinion it is hardly possible and permissible (допустимый) to show Shakespeare in modern dress. But I believe that the spirit of poetry should be modern and lifelike to the audiences today. For every new generation classical art has a new sense and meaning.

PART FIVE