Hamlet - notes and observations....

Checkmate, was written at the request of the Sadler's Wells Ballet for their visit to Paris in 1937. (Sir Arthur) Bliss chose the game of Chess as the subject for his ballet and wrote his own scenario. It was choreographed by (Dame) Ninette de Valois who knew nothing about chess so Bliss had to explain the rules and show her the characteristic moves of the pieces. The original cast list included such names as Frederick Ashton, Robert Helpmann and Margot Fonteyn. The conductor was Constant Lambert.

"As the curtain rises two players sit motionless on a raised dais with a chessboard between them. The Golden Player removes his visor disclosing the features of Love. The Black Player slowly strips his gauntlet disclosing the skeleton arm of Death. They turn the board three times to see who makes the first move; Love wins and raises a red pawn to his heart..... "

(and, yes, now I know that Sir Kenneth (Macmillan) would have been something of an infant prodigy if he had been choreographer...)

Um Hamlet a Mais

Daemon: If you're a UNIX (or MacOS-X) fan, then "daemon" needs no explanation: if you're a computerphobe, then try Philip Pullman's "Northern Lights", the first of the "Dark Materials" trilogy.

(the Alethiometer, alongside, will get you there)

Babel Fish

1. a (real - and free) Internet language translation service, named from

2. an (unreal, but very useful) creature in Douglas Adam's "Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy". Placed in your ear, the Babel Fish provides an instant translation of any language in the universe by feeding on brain waves. Maybe by now (in some parts of the galaxy) it could have evolved into a Fractal Fish, able to do this simultaneously and recursively for concepts and not just words....

Fractals

"any of various irregular curves or shapes that repeat themselves at any scale on which they are examined"

António Cabrita (in the wonderful "programme newspaper" for "Um Hamlet a mais") examines the fractal nature of the play ( I do wish I really had portuguese!) and again it was that that struck me in the sense not just of "play within a play" but also the circularity (infinitude, better) of the action and thought. Deeper and deeper without change (Curiouser and curiouser...)

The fractal alongside is part of the wel-known Mandelbrot set.

Yorick

Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio:
a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy:

Olivier: perhaps the most famous still from the 1948 film.
(courtesey Rank Enterprises)

Unexpected....

the night in question (at the TNSJ) was Tuesday, March 30th 2004