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Hamlet-machine
Reprise de l'édition parue en 1979 augmentée d'une pièce de théâtre, "Héraclès 5", écrite en 1964.
Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1978
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233 people want to read
About the author
Heiner Müller
259 books90 followersHeiner Müller was a German (formerly East German) dramatist, poet, writer, essayist and theatre director. Described as "the theatre's greatest living poet" since Samuel Beckett, Müller is often considered the most important German dramatist of the 20th century after Bertolt Brecht. His "enigmatic, fragmentary pieces" are a significant contribution to postmodern drama and postdramatic theatre.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 14, 2008
Reading this collection, it totally makes sense that Robert Wilson would team up with Muller on his gigantic the CIVIL warS project for the '84 Olympics.
Overall, some very good plays (some clearly better than others).
What is most apparent throughout is Muller's love for the word and his seeming desire to turn the imagery of dreams into allegories for our world. The success his plays depend on how successfully he melds these two seemingly disparate elements. Hamlet-machine, his most famous play, is possibly in this way the best in this collection, though each of them offer something exciting.
Don't misunderstand me though: they aren't all full-stop winners, and they certainly aren't easy reads (per say), but they are all on the short side so even if one of them doesn't excite you it's not like you've lost much time.
PS - a quote from Muller in the introduction about what a good playwright should be:
"At bottom, playwriting always means to me that a picture is torn, a picture of myself too. In one play one picture is torn, from this a new picture originates. And that has to be torn again. That is actually the process."
Overall, some very good plays (some clearly better than others).
What is most apparent throughout is Muller's love for the word and his seeming desire to turn the imagery of dreams into allegories for our world. The success his plays depend on how successfully he melds these two seemingly disparate elements. Hamlet-machine, his most famous play, is possibly in this way the best in this collection, though each of them offer something exciting.
Don't misunderstand me though: they aren't all full-stop winners, and they certainly aren't easy reads (per say), but they are all on the short side so even if one of them doesn't excite you it's not like you've lost much time.
PS - a quote from Muller in the introduction about what a good playwright should be:
"At bottom, playwriting always means to me that a picture is torn, a picture of myself too. In one play one picture is torn, from this a new picture originates. And that has to be torn again. That is actually the process."
June 14, 2018
I’d suggest diving into Müller’s works with some knowledge of postmodern drama, the history of the author himself, and the historical influences he uses for his plays. Or at the very least, reading the interview presented at the end of this book first.
And even with that, keep in mind that Müller uses everything in the kitchen sink - pieces of Bertolt Brecht, Nietzsche, Goethe, opera, and Greek tragedy are constantly invoked, rather inorganically, in my opinion. Perhaps that was his intention?
I must confess that the disjunct nature of the writing and my lack of knowledge on postmodern theater made these works very inaccessible and unmemorable to me. As in, I could barely remember what I read after reading it and felt like a complete dolt.
I usually don’t mind if I have to meet the author halfway - but a lot of the text here seemed too much of what was in Müller’s own head for me to really get a grasp on what he was trying to say.
And even with that, keep in mind that Müller uses everything in the kitchen sink - pieces of Bertolt Brecht, Nietzsche, Goethe, opera, and Greek tragedy are constantly invoked, rather inorganically, in my opinion. Perhaps that was his intention?
I must confess that the disjunct nature of the writing and my lack of knowledge on postmodern theater made these works very inaccessible and unmemorable to me. As in, I could barely remember what I read after reading it and felt like a complete dolt.
I usually don’t mind if I have to meet the author halfway - but a lot of the text here seemed too much of what was in Müller’s own head for me to really get a grasp on what he was trying to say.
May 6, 2010
Muller hemorrhages his ideas on Hamlet and the intellectual dilemma and while parts of the text might be an interesting jumping off point to explore some of those ideas, they ultimately come across as incoherent. Shifting through the mess of mastbatory ideas of philsophy and theatre seems a silly effort when so many other options are available.
July 25, 2013
Heiner Muller is not for everyone.
It fact he isn't for most people.
I directed the world premiere of his play Medeaplay
It fact he isn't for most people.
I directed the world premiere of his play Medeaplay
October 28, 2023
Muller is heir to Brecht's legacy in Germany, though he seemed to inherit the traits of Brecht's strange experimental/political plays, and nothing from his works like Caucasian Chalk Circle, Galileo, Good Person of Szechuan, etc. I'd only recommend him to die-hard socialists and those deeply interested in drama.
The Hamlet Machine *** -- The Hamlet Machine is probably the most famous nine-page play in the world. Brief, cryptic, chaotic, and “notorious for its complexity.” It has spawned many interpretations, or been called utter nonsense. Covering everything from the plot of Hamlet to the Hungarian uprising, the play touches in the effectual nature of men/humankind (and the artist). But the other half of the play focuses on gender issues and feminism, with Hamlet transforming into a woman. Perhaps this is meant to offer an alternative approach.
It's “complexity” or incongruency provides a fascinate spectacle. At nine pages – or around 20 minutes – the fractured language and plot create a delightful sense of confusion and mystery.
Overall, interesting, but not kind of thing. This is only for those who enjoy postmodern, experimental theatre.
Gundling’s Life Frederick of Prussia Lessing’s Sleep Dream Scream *** -- This is a fanciful history of (mostly) Frederick the Great, the playwright Lessing and a man, Gundling, mocked mercilessly by Frederick the Great’s court. It’s actually rather compelling drama, mixing history and fantasy together. The message is a bit murky, but the most compelling part is Frederick’s struggle with being gay.
The Hamlet Machine *** -- The Hamlet Machine is probably the most famous nine-page play in the world. Brief, cryptic, chaotic, and “notorious for its complexity.” It has spawned many interpretations, or been called utter nonsense. Covering everything from the plot of Hamlet to the Hungarian uprising, the play touches in the effectual nature of men/humankind (and the artist). But the other half of the play focuses on gender issues and feminism, with Hamlet transforming into a woman. Perhaps this is meant to offer an alternative approach.
It's “complexity” or incongruency provides a fascinate spectacle. At nine pages – or around 20 minutes – the fractured language and plot create a delightful sense of confusion and mystery.
Overall, interesting, but not kind of thing. This is only for those who enjoy postmodern, experimental theatre.
Gundling’s Life Frederick of Prussia Lessing’s Sleep Dream Scream *** -- This is a fanciful history of (mostly) Frederick the Great, the playwright Lessing and a man, Gundling, mocked mercilessly by Frederick the Great’s court. It’s actually rather compelling drama, mixing history and fantasy together. The message is a bit murky, but the most compelling part is Frederick’s struggle with being gay.
May 2, 2023
I'm not usually big on plays and I don't necessarily pick them up for that same reason (although, I'm trying to change that), but what a brilliant read this was! Absolutely gripping and engaging from start to finish.
March 12, 2021
a cool dude making some cool plays
November 27, 2008
Hamlet Machine cambió la manera de pensar la dramaturgia. Es un parteaguas en el teatro de la segunda mitad del siglo XX. Leerla es un gozo y un riesgo, supone una ruptura con la noción de personaje y la noción de representación teatral. Supongo que emprender la puesta en escena de este texto debe ser muy difícil.
unfinished
August 16, 2009This is rigorous reading especially for those unfamiliar with Muller's subject and style. An old buddy of mine took me to see this play maybe 18 years ago and since then Hamlet Machine has been on my mind. I thought this book would be the best way to get into the mind of its creator and learn more about this modern masterpiece for theatre-drama.
September 5, 2007
brilliant, amazingly difficult to perform, memorizing the lines took forever but getting to play hamlet - well, what girl doesn't want to do that
February 4, 2008
It is good to break down continuously reoccurring information. It becomes whole again, I promise.
October 4, 2015
I was Hamlet. I stood at the waterfront and talked to the surf BLAH BLAH BLAH, behind me the ruins of Europe.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews