From the works of
Shakespeare to that of Arthur Miller, theatre has been blessed with many a
great character. The figures of Hamlet, John Proctor and Eliza Doolittle are
driving forces in their plays’ storylines, and are essential to the success of
the piece. Indeed, without fascinating and finely drawn characters, a play and
musical might amount to nothing more than a flop. Here is a list of ten of our
favourite characters from plays and musicals, both from Europe and across the
pond (in no particular order).
Hamlet
It would be hard not
to include Shakespeare’s Hamlet in a list of great characters. With the
soliloquies, thought-provoking speeches, and approximately one third of the
play’s lines, Hamlet is the celebrated philosophiser of theatre. The role is
one of the most sought after and challenging; the marker of how good an actor
is. In recent years, the part has drawn in Ben Whishaw, David Tennant and Jude
Law – names that surely indicate just how juicy and demanding this character
really is!
Eliza Doolittle
The laverly Eliza
Doolittle has been immortalised by both Julie Andrews and Audrey Hepburn, in
the stage and screen productions of My
Fair Lady. It’s the character’s early appearances as a Cockney flower girl
that endear her to audiences, and her light-hearted tussle with Henry Higgins
that gives the play its humour as she trains to become a London lady. She’s
loved for her warmth, spirit, and willingness to challenge Higgins, but do we
like her quite as much once she’s transformed into the elite?
Macbeth
Arguably the most
difficult role of theatre, Macbeth is the Shakespeare character riddled with
antitheses and packed with lines and speeches. The role might not get as much
stage time as Hamlet, but for its sheer energy and complexity, it is a clear
rival. Perhaps the greatest difficulty actors face with this character is the
conflict between psychological and supernatural disturbance - how does an actor
choose to play it? A conundrum Patrick Stewart and Rupert Goold dealt with
superbly in Chichester Festival Theatre’s 2008 production.
Bernarda Alba
Perhaps not an obvious
choice, but García Lorca’s Bernarda Alba is a strikingly brutal figure in
twentieth century drama. Her dictator-like power over her daughters, and the
eerie hold she has over the play, make her a force to behold. Bernarda’s words
might be cutting, but so, too, are her silences. This is an incredible
character, as most recently evidenced in the Almeida’s production of The House of Bernarda Alba last year.
Jean Valjean
Theatre is littered
with misunderstood characters, but none is more misunderstood than Jean
Valjean, from Les Misérables. From
prisoner to father, from worker to mayor, Valjean never quite escapes the
torment of police officer Javert, who has vowed to capture the escaped
prisoner. What’s more, he must struggle with Marius, the young man in love with
his daughter. Valjean indeed struggles for most of his life, in an attempt to
make peace and to atone for his sins. He is without a doubt one of the
strongest characters in theatre.
Juliet
One of the iconic
roles in theatre for young women, Juliet has been tackled by some of the most
reputable actresses in the business, from Judi Dench to Mariah Gale. The
character is famous for her incomparable beauty and youthful love with Romeo,
but Juliet is no soppy heroine. As Gale demonstrated in the 2010 RSC
production, this is a young woman with a bite. Her choice of ‘dead men’s
rattling bones’ over marriage with Paris, her taking the Friar’s potion, and
her final heart-breaking act of suicide are testament to this female
character’s undeniable strength.
Max Bialystock
The hit stage show The Producers bursts with incredible
characters, but Max Bialystock is at the top. The wayward producer is described
as selfish and greedy but has a big heart, as he helps aspiring producer Leo
Bloom achieve his dream. Together, they set out to raise $2million dollars from
little old ladies to put on 'Spring Time for Hitler', a musical satire about
Hitler, in the hope of making a fortune out of a sure flop…but is it a sure
flop? Nathan Lane starred as Max in both the Broadway and West End productions,
winning a record number of Tony awards and playing to critical acclaim.
Everyone dreams that working in theatre land could be this side-splittingly
funny!
Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins is the
ultimate character. We all want to go on adventures with her, and can’t resist
joining in with her upbeat number, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! From the
original books to the renowned Disney film to the hit stage show, the character
is always present in our hearts. Hired as nanny to the Banks children, Mary
Poppins takes them on magical adventures with Burt the chimney sweep and a host
of other wonderful characters. Most recently, the role earned Laura Michelle
Kelly the 2005 Olivier Award for Best Actress. Kelly, who originated the role
in this new West End production, played over 500 performances.
John Proctor
Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is one of the last
century’s most agonising dramatic works, and John Proctor is the persecuted
tragic protagonist at the centre of it all. It’s details that matter in this
fine portrait of a man deeply conflicted between personal integrity and public
reputation. Proctor’s impassioned lines about ‘[his] name’ in the second half
of the play, and his determination to hang, are evidence of a painful struggle
with truth and identity, in a world where vindictive lies have control.
Elphaba
The Wicked Witch of
the West has long been known for her green skin and evil prowess, but in the
hit musical Wicked, the character of
Elphaba is shown in a different light.
Another misunderstood character, she is turned wicked by rumours spread
to capture her, as she knows too much about the Wizard’s evil plans to rule
over Oz. Although she tries to do good, helping her sister Nessa and her
friends, Glinda the Good and Fiyero, she realises that she can never be truly
good. Her failure in turn drives her mad, transforming her into the infamous
Wicked Witch of the West.
Join in the discussion on Twitter with #UltimateTheatreCharacters.
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