Genre
Comedy-Drama
Language
English
Setting and Context
John Barrymore's old apartment- New York City, 1991
Narrator and Point of View
POV is that of Andrew
Tone and Mood
Comedic and dramatic
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist is Andrew. Antagonist is John Barrymore
Major Conflict
Andrew is a tv actor who's had success. He must now decide whether to play Shakespeare's Hamlet or continue on in television.
Climax
Andrew decides to play Hamlet, and once he does his Hollywood friend shows up to offer him a tv pilot.
Foreshadowing
Barrymore's haunting Andrew foreshadows Andrew's being haunted in the final scene by the decision to play Hamlet or carry on as a television actor.
Understatement
It is understated that Andrew will be offered another tv role.
Allusions
The play is an allusion to the choice we all must make between commerce and our desire to achieve excellence in our chosen profession, and combines this type of broad allusion with direct reference to Shakespeare.
Imagery
Barrymore's haunting is a tangible image of how an actor is haunted by the great actors that came before them.
Paradox
Andrew decides to play Hamlet, but paradoxically as soon as he does is offered a tv pilot. Once he's determined he will be going after greatness as an actor, he's offered more money from Hollywood.
Parallelism
Barrymore's entrance into Andrew's life to convince him to play Hamlet parallels Andrew's Hollywood friend entering at the end of the play to offer him a tv pilot.
Personification
Barrymore become the personification of the voice in one's head.
Use of Dramatic Devices
John Barrymore's ghost
