You have asked multiple questions here, although your
first and second are connected, since the entire line is "I would have such a fellow
whipped for o'erdoing Termagant, it out herods Herod, pray you you avoid
it."
This is from Hamlet's advice to the players and he
names two characters, Termagant and Herod, that were usually over acted. He is giving
advice as to what good acting is and isn't in this
speech.
In Hamlet's (and Shakespeare's opinion) too much
is too much. Over acting is to be avoided, IE don't "tear a
passion to tatters", don't "saw" or "split" the
air.
Whether you are a classical actor doing Shakespeare or
you are an actor doing a modern piece, this is still good advice. Good acting shouldn't
look like acting at all. Chewing the scenery might impress the unenlightened but it
shouldn't be mistaken for good acting.
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