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Publisher's Note: The Shakespearean soliloquy, though it has always fascinated scholars and engendered much historical and literary commentary, has not until now been studied from a performance point of view. 'Modern Hamlets and Their Soliloquies', now available in paperback, is a first in its class. No one knows how Richard Burbage--for whom Shakespeare created the role of Hamlet--performed 'To be, or not to be,' the best known of Shakespeare's soliloquies. Every actor who plays Hamlet must choose how to speak the speech--trippingly, perhaps--what meaning to assign to which line, which words to pivot upon. Not things to be taken lightly in Hamlet--this is, after all, what Olivier called 'pound for pound the greatest play ever written.' This book examines how modern actors have chosen to perform the seven soliloquies in Hamlet, and why they made the choices they made, against the backdrop of their specific productions of the play. At the heart of this book is a series of eclectic and provocative interviews with, among others, Derek Jacobi, David Warner, Kevin Kline, and Ben Kingsley; the performances considered include those of Olivier, Gielgud, Burton, and Guinness. This multitude of powerful voices brings out fascinating parallels and divergences among different actors and illustrates the many personal and creative touches with which gifted players can enrich a character.'Modern Hamlets and Their Soliloquies' will instruct and delight actors, readers, lovers of Shakespeare, and all those who enjoy the grand passions and the smallest and most perfect nuances that make great drama.