We learn from Ralph that Hazell was quite dramatic, obsessed with theater, and was quite intelligent but only displayed said intelligence to Ralph.
There are many ways to read him, since he is so thinly characterized. To me, this sounds like Hazell was uninterested and under stimulated by the traditional school curriculum, but probably sought out a lot of knowledge about acting, theater, plays, famous actors, that kind of stuff. He has a good memory for memorizing lines, a lot of empathy for connecting with his characters, is a keen observer of people, has a vivid imagination and emotional life, and is shockingly well read in the things that would help him improve his acting, be it theory for his craft, understanding how sets are built and lit, or researching historical background and scholarly interpretations of Hamlet to get a better understanding of the play and role he’s be in. And those are the glimpses of intelligence that he displays to Ralph.
But those qualities are often overshadowed by his tumultuous temper and emotional swings in his adolescence. That, and his jealously over Ralph’s crush on Laurie, and his hurt and shame over Ralph’s rejection him after their last encounter causes him to out Ralph in a fit of rage.
I can see him mellowing out a bit as his hormones settle and he finds fulfillment for his artistic aspirations in his Hollywood career. He’d fit in with the 1930s show biz crowd, who are much more open to flamboyance, to queerness, to dramatic expressions and emotional intensity. And the California sunshine would also do him good. He’ll always have a flair for the dramatic, but I can also see him gaining a reputation for being good to work with, a decent actor, who shows up on set on time and not intoxicated or otherwise compromised. And he’d like a lot of the people he would work with: lots of queer directors, writers, actors, crew. The pain of his isolation and the rejection of the one senior who seemed to have liked him would fade as he builds his new life. At some point, I can see him settling down with a fellow actor, or a director or writer, someone who appreciates his art and his personality, someone who also finds a creative and emotional home in the open atmosphere of pre-Hays Code Hollywood.
