"Oh my God."
The opening line of the play goes to Andrew. He says it in reference to the magisterial appearance of his new home, the New York brownstone which is described as Gothic and castle-like. His awed wonder is only just beginning to get tested.
"An anytime snack!"
Various character repeat this line because it is the selling point to a popular commercial jingle which catapulted Andrew to fame. The line is even delivered by Andrew via TV in a scene in which the ghost of John Barrymore is watching television.
“It’s Shakespeare, right, it’s like algebra on stage.”
One of the most memorable and funniest lines in the play boils Hamlet down to the level of dislike is that near-universal; well, at least half-universal. The line also illuminates the character of the character who is aligns most sharply with the “business” side of “show business.” His observation does not merely reveal his distaste for the art of show business, but also effectively situates what it is about Shakespeare that makes so many people take an instant dislike. Even that half of the world which doesn’t find the prospect of algebra class a horrifying nightmare can easily get the meaning.
“No, come on—this is just an apartment. It’s not magical, and there aren’t any ghosts or supernatural phenomena. And we’re not having a séance.”
Except, of course, it is magical, there are ghosts and they do have a séance. Without those things, there would be no play.
“As a link in a proud theatrical tradition. Every soul embarking upon Hamlet is permitted to summon an earlier player. From Burbage to Kean to Irving—the call has been answered.”
Perhaps baseball player is the only profession that is rifer with superstitious ritual than acting. Lots of superstitious beliefs have evolved in the profession from saying “break a leg” instead of “good luck” to never referring to Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth by that name inside a theater. The superstitious belief about being able to call on dead actors for help when playing Hamlet is not one of those actual practiced, alas. Of course, it could well be true that every actor who ever played Hamlet did summon assistance from another who played the role earlier, but that does not mean that every summon was answered.
“Hamlet is a young man, a college boy, at his sexual peak. Hamlet is pure hormone.”
Boiled down to its most vital essential element, this is the advice that Barrymore passes along to Andrew as a means of getting at the essence of playing Hamlet.
“She is to be treasured, and honored. I have known few such women in my sensual history. Perhaps only five hundred.”
The “she” to which Barrymore’s ghost is referring is Andrew’s girlfriend, Deirdre. The “five hundred” such women which is the funny punchline here is a reference to how many virgins Barrymore has known. Deirdre’s virginity at age 29 is a major subplot of the play.
