William Redfield (1927–1976)

Redfield played Guildenstern in the Gielgud-Burton production of Hamlet in 1964 and this is his correspondence about the experience, and about life in the theater--"more like a bullfight arena than some people imagine." He's an adept and thoughtful writer, but disgusting--he makes a pass at the Ophelia the first time he has her alone, suggesting she "get naked as soon as possible." At a dinner with Burton et al "it would have been a neat trick for the ladies to get a word in edgeways. Happily for the gentlemen, none of them tried." But why should I be surprised? That was 1964 and as I write, Trump is in the White House. Redfield is obsessed with his performance, albeit in a minor role, and criticizes Gielgud for muddy direction because he isn't paid enough attention. (In Gielgud's letters of the period, Redfield isn't even mentioned.) Redfield's description of actors at rehearsal and their thought processes as they work with a director (in this case a brilliant actor himself) is fascinating, fun, and sounds about right.… (altro)