Undecided, Unpredictable, and Always a Mystery

What makes an actor a great actor? What is the cause of an emotional reaction towards a movie or play?According to This American Life (Act V-of Hamlet), the rejoinder is based on the quality and realism in the projection. In other words, only if the movie/play is justifiably convincing, or authentic will it provoke both an impact on the actor and audience. In the Missouri State Penitentiary a play of Hamlet was held by the prisoners. At first, I thought these nonprofessionals would have preformed abysmally, for they lacked experience in the theater performance  nonetheless they showed the contrary when having listened to them. It is outstanding how only by listening to people act one can actually judge their acting potential and quality. The inmates learn that the nature of drama has the potential to act as a mirror on the soul as they reflect on their crimes and begin to understand how the actor completes the meaning of the characters in Hamlet.

    Personal experience is a primary factor for portraying a specific emotion. When an actor reflects his/her feelings on stage, the words Shakespeare once wanted to come to life, do. Many of the actors in this prison were actual avengers. Principally, the actor of Hamlet was a "real-life" murderer. It is said by the director, that it came to a point where it was almost believable. Having actors who've experienced what they're acting, created a thin line between reality and fiction; it was almost indistinguishable. This is what you call professional acting. Like Agnes, the director said: "A good actor has to open himself up...." However, one can never expect the same methodology or style, for in every actors lies a distinct personality and experience.

By interpreting a character and defining its persona, actors expand the number of interpretations the audience might experience. At the beginning of the podcast, the interviewers demonstrated a worldwide outlook of Hamlet's most famous line: "To be or not to be–...." From New York, to Europe to South America, until the Missouri State Prison, it was evident: there can be other interpretations of Hamlet. The manner in which Hamlet is conveyed depends on the experiences that influence an actor's perception and thought.  However, the audience is influenced by the mood and tone in which the actor embodies the fictional character, therefore actors presume a powerful role when acting. Although the disposition of an actor is the essence to personifying and bringing to life words on paper, it is a biased way to represent a story like Hamlet's. The truth behind Hamlet will always remain undecided.