Hamlet

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Some may recall that I reported back from the Beyond the Border International Storytelling Festival last year about a mad Spanish storyteller who re-enacted the Greek Myths with strange props and toy figures, described the sexual activities of the gods quite explicitly in broken English and threw wooden cosmic eggs at members of the audience.

Well, he's just e-mailed to wish me happy new year and tell me about his song on YouTube, which puts Hamlet's soliloquy cheerfully to music with Spanish guitar.

He's a nutter. Anyway, here's the link.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JgKa9hBWvU

When David Tennant performs it later in the year, I'm not sure I'll be able to keep a straight face now.

Martin

[The Doctor]

That was...that was....

No. I just can't find the words.

-Ralph

[Bogatan]

Thats fantastic, I think,

I felt I had to link to Shatners rap for those who havent seen Free Enterprse. Not sure which I think is the most odd ball.

uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3yerCiByca4

Andy

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Starring:
- David Tennant (Doctor Who) as Hamlet
- Patrick Stewart (Star Trek, X-Men) as Claudius
- Oliver Ford Davies ('Sio Bibble' in the Star Wars prequels) as Polonius

And the universe didn't end!

Never seen or read the play before, so I can't really make a comparison with other productions, but I enjoyed it immensely - perhaps more than any other Shakespeare play I've been to (and that includes McKellen's Lear and three others that starred Patrick S). I think that is in large part due to the fact that it is such as stonking script, chock full of the most iconic dialogue ever.

Patrick S doesn't seem to have to try any more - he effortlessly gives a tip-top performance full of soul whatever role he plays. And OFD was funny as the rambling old man.

David Tennant is superb in the scenes where he gets to be manic, witty retorts and sharp observations shooting out of his mouth. That's where his strengths lie, and he plays the role of Hamlet very much as he does the Doctor, in his English accent, with similar mannerisms. He is less suited to the solemn monologues, and his "To be or not to be / Perchance to dream" scene was rather flat, compared with Patrick Stewart's solo contemplation of his crimes and whether he can be forgiven while retaining the rewards. In that respect I was a little disappointed that Tennant didn't surprise me by extending his range beyond what I knew he was good at. Nevertheless, he shone in most of the scenes and did himself proud overall.

Martin

[Bogatan]

Where is it being performed? After seeing PS in Macbeth last year Id happily sit through some more. Though I doubt even if I can get a ticket that I'll be able to see it.

Andy

[Grand Moff Muffin]

I saw it at Stratford. It will be moving to London for a limited run. Tickets for that go on sale to the general public on 12 Sept., if they aren't already sold out by then to RSC members, which they probably will be.

www.rsc.org.uk/WhatsOn/6792.aspx

www.thisistheatre.com/londonshows/hamletrsc.html

Tickets have been going on eBay for silly money.

Martin

[Mark_Stevenson]

I'm going to see on the 3rd. I have studied Hamlet at great length and have seen a few productions (none of which I've been overly impressed with, as they didn't quite 'step up' to the text) so I am very excited by this...

[Grand Moff Muffin]

I've just bought the Kenneth Branagh Hamlet for a fiver off Amazon:

www.amazon.co.uk/Hamlet-Disc-Special-Kenneth-Branagh/dp/B000WF0BXE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1220211414&sr=1-1

At four hours it's a more complete version of the text than most productions (including David Tennant's). I think Branagh is a better Hamlet than Tennant, and Kate Winslet is good as Ophelia. Derek Jacobi's Claudius isn't a patch on Patrick Stewart, though, and Richard Briers is too nasty a Polonius.

But it's a great film, visually dazzling, set in a beautiful palace with numerous mirrored walls and secret passages, and well worth the money. The cast is trule all-star, including Brian Blessed, Charlton Heston, John Gielgud, John Mills, Judi Dench, Billy Crystal, Robin Williams and even Ken Dodd.

And of course, the script is arguably the best script ever written in the history of the planet.



Martin

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Aug 17, 2008 12:48:59 GMT Mark_Stevenson said:

I'm going to see on the 3rd. I have studied Hamlet at great length and have seen a few productions (none of which I've been overly impressed with, as they didn't quite 'step up' to the text) so I am very excited by this...

And the verdict, please?

Martin

[Mark_Stevenson]

I liked it a lot. I can't really disagree with any of the points you raised - Tennant's great when he can throw all his manic energy into the character, though he wasn't quite as good at the quiet, reflective passages (but it's a hell of a role and he does a sterling job of it), Stewart is effortlessly brilliant, bringing some innovative inflections to Claudius, and it was very interesting casting him as the Ghost, too, where he got to show off his REALLY LOUD SHOUTING VOICE. Ford-Davies was hilarious as a bumbling Polonius, and the real surprise for me came with Penny Downie as Queen Gertrude, who made me feel real attachment and empathy for a character I'd previously viewed as a bit of a cypher. The most startling moment for me came in the final scene where she realised that the chalice is poisoned and drinks anyway, when every other production I've seen has made it quite plain that she was clueless right to the end.

If I had to pick a fault, it would be the odd choices of which parts were excised. There was no explanation of the demise of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern or Hamlet's escape, and (most annoyingly of all) the arrival of Fortinbras at the end, which pretty much amounts to a coup d'etat, was chopped down to a simple entrance as the lights fell on the final scene. Hamlet dies, the end. The weight of the final tragedy felt oddly diminished to me, where as (for example) in last year's King Lear, I literally had tears in my eyes. After such high quality throughout, the ending of this Hamlet left me feeling oddly deflated.

But, all that said, it's well worth the time if you can get a ticket.

Mx

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Not sure I agree with you 100% about the ending. On the one hand, I loved the fleshed-out plot of the completely unabridged Branagh version. But on the other hand, chopping off the Fortinbras bit in the Tennant Hamlet meant the play ended on a much stronger line: "Good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!" A pretty good point to bring the curtain down, for someone (like me) who at the time wasn't expecting anything more.

Martin

[Mark_Stevenson]

Don't get me wrong, it was unquestionably one of the best Hammys I've seen. The thing with Hamlet is that (unless you're doing a Brannagh) you have to cut something out. But it's all brilliant stuff, so you're going to lose something either a) important or b) beautiful, however you slice it.

An aside: when I first read the play at the tender age of 17, I found myself incredibly sympathetic towards Hamlet. Now, as I'm staring down the barrel of 30 (the same age as the character in the play) I find myself thinking "For Christ's sakes, stop whining!" So I must presume that teenage angst was a lot more socially acceptable in the 16th century...



Mx

[The Doctor]

We never did Hamelt at school, though I read it at the time for fun. It seemed strong enough, though I was probably not old enough to really understand big chunks of it. Never actually seen a performed version of it.

For me, Shakespeare often does not really work on the printed page. It's designed to be performed.

-Ralph

[Mark_Stevenson]

Amen to that Ralph. I'm quite lucky to live half an hour from Stratford-upon-Avon, so it's relatively easy for me to see decent productions.

Mx

[The Doctor]

The filmed version of the Tennant Hamlet is now on iPlayer:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00pk71s/Hamlet/

I gave it a go but switched it off half-way through. Just couldn't get into it. The staging didn't really work for me and it felt very flat and lifeless. The cast are giving it a good go, though the lass playing Orphelia was very dull.

I think I'd rather see it on stage or if it's it's filmed it needs rather more dynamic direction. Ah well.

John Simm has been cast in a version playing next year. I may try to get to see that, as that sounds like perfect casting for the title role to me.

-Ralph

[The Doctor]

Well I only meant to watch a bit of the Kenneth Branagh film version just to see what the style was like, but ended up watching all near-4 hours of it in one sitting. Now, that's how you adapt Shakespeare to a filmed medium. Superb, compelling stuff from start to finish. Bravo!

-Ralph

[legios]

I didn't end up seeing the Tennant version when it was on television - didn't want to take myself away from the family for the three hours, especially as this Christmas was my first opportunity to really get to know the man my mother is engaged to.

If it gets a DVD release I will probably add it to my rental list to watch in due course. I did like the Kenneth Branagh version when I saw it a earlier this year - there were some truly cracking performances in that one.

Karl

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Dec 29, 2009 23:20:36 GMT The Doctor said:

Well I only meant to watch a bit of the Kenneth Branagh film version just to see what the style was like, but ended up watching all near-4 hours of it in one sitting. Now, that's how you adapt Shakespeare to a filmed medium. Superb, compelling stuff from start to finish. Bravo!

Hurrah!

Martin

[The Doctor]

Dec 30, 2009 8:23:11 GMT legios said:

If it gets a DVD release I will probably add it to my rental list to watch in due course. I did like the Kenneth Branagh version when I saw it a earlier this year - there were some truly cracking performances in that one.

Karl

It's on the ipLAYER. See up thread for link.

-Ralph

[The Doctor]

In a slightly related note, King Lear online:

www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/king-lear/watch-the-play/487/

-Ralph

[The Doctor]

And has Turnbull had the chance to watch the Brannagh Hamlet yet?

-Ralph

[The Doctor]

I am told he will be watching it this week!

-Ralph

[Andy Turnbull]

Wednesday to be exact.

Andy

[Andy Turnbull]

Absolutely splendid. Gripping from start to finish. Great way to spend a day.

Andy

[The Doctor]

Now you understand why I have badgered you to watch it!

-Ralph

[Andy Turnbull]

Yes, yes I do.

Andy

[The Doctor]

All must watch!

-Ralph

[Grand Moff Muffin]

A new production of Hamlet recorded live is being broadcast in cinemas around the country this coming Thursday. Visit www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ntlive to find your local participating venue.

I'm not quite clear on whether it is being broadcast simultaneous to its being performed or whether it was pre-recorded 'live' at an earlier date.

I've booked to see it at Cardiff Cineworld.

Martin

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Dec 4, 2010 17:54:43 GMT Grand Moff Muffin said:

A new production of Hamlet recorded live is being broadcast in cinemas around the country this coming Thursday. Visit www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ntlive to find your local participating venue.

I'm not quite clear on whether it is being broadcast simultaneous to its being performed or whether it was pre-recorded 'live' at an earlier date.

I've booked to see it at Cardiff Cineworld.

Well, that was a novel experience! A theatre play broadcast live to sixteen countries simultaneously with it being performed (in front of a live audience). What it lost in not actually being in the physical presence of the actors, it made up for with the leg room and informality of my favourite cinema. It was over four hours long including the interval, and I only noticed one scene missing that was included in the Branagh. It was modern dress, but a hell of a lot better than the David Tennant version, with some wonderfully inventive visual aspects. Particularly effective use of men-in-black-type security agents lurking in every corner.

Rory Kinnear was a very good Hamlet, but Patrick Malahide's Claudius stole the show as far as I was concerned.

Martin

[The Doctor]

I had hoped to catch it, but alas the Edinburgh cinema that was showing it was too far in the treacherous ice we have currently. I do hope it is attempted again. The idea does appeal to me greatly.

-Ralph