Hamlet- I am helping with a school production and looking for minimalist costume ideas. Where to look online?

Question

Hamlet- I am helping with a school production and looking for minimalist costume ideas. Where to look online?

Answer 1

There was a classic minimalist production of Hamlet on Broadway in 1964 starring Richard Burton and Hume Cronyn directed by John Gielgud.  It was so popular that it was recorded.  You can find it on DVD or VHS.  Burton and Cronyn are brilliant in it!  The costumes were to look like rehearsal costumes.  The actors wore street clothes essentially.  Burton wore a black V-neck sweater and black trousers.  Cronyn wore a suit.  Here is a link with some pictures from the production: http://www.bardolatry.com/ham64.htm.  I know this is not exactly an online recommendation, more of a movie one, but you can google images from the production.  You may be able to find the movie at your library.    

You may not want to put all characters in black.  Why?  Take note that Gertrude says to Hamlet in Act I scene 2 "Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted color off."  She wants him to stop wearing black, which implies that he is the only one still wearing mourning clothes.  Claudius earlier in the scene essentially says "We have mourned but now life must go on."  Just my two cents.

Answer 2

I directed "Hamlet Dreams" as minimalist dramatic composition.

Answer 3

Minimalist productions of "Hamlet" frequently place all te characters in simple black. I checked by running a Google image search.

http://search.aol.com/aol/image?&invocat...