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Post by herculesmulligan on Feb 2, 2017 11:46:26 GMT
Okay so I've booked for this but don't know of the play and have never seen or read Hamlet (I know... I know....) I feel like I need to do some research to get the most out of this? Can anyone suggest anything I should watch or read? Failing that it'll be the sparknotes!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2017 11:52:54 GMT
I saw the film for the first time YEARS before I ever saw my first Hamlet. It works as a stand-alone, as long as you don't mind Beckettian plays that involve a lot of talking and thinking, but if you can squeeze a Hamlet in, you'll probably get more out of it. I'd recommend the RSC's Hamlet with David Tennant if you think a Hamlet is a good idea. It's readily available on DVD, it's a good and accessible production, and the entire ensemble are excellent with - crucially - a Rosencrantz and Guildenstern who are clearly different from each other. (Some productions think it's funny to play them as interchangeable. I VERY MUCH disagree with that idea.)
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2017 11:57:07 GMT
I saw the film for the first time YEARS before I ever saw my first Hamlet. It works as a stand-alone, as long as you don't mind Beckettian plays that involve a lot of talking and thinking, but if you can squeeze a Hamlet in, you'll probably get more out of it. I'd recommend the RSC's Hamlet with David Tennant if you think a Hamlet is a good idea. It's readily available on DVD, it's a good and accessible production, and the entire ensemble are excellent with - crucially - a Rosencrantz and Guildenstern who are clearly different from each other. (Some productions think it's funny to play them as interchangeable. I VERY MUCH disagree with that idea.) This is not entirely an answer to the original question, but I also agree that Tennant Shakespeare is an accessible and downright good production to start with (to quote my Mother 'It was in English!') Also I'm very pleased Baemax to see someone recommending it, as I'm sick of Shakespeare snobs telling me that's an awful production. Hamlets are of course a matter of personal taste and preference but it's by no means a bad production whatever way you look at it. Anyway yay Teannant Hamlet (bonus Sir Pat Stewart too) |
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Post by callum on Feb 2, 2017 12:23:06 GMT
Was the Jude Law production with Penelope Wilton as Gertrude ever recorded? Am watching The Young Pope at the moment so think it would be quite interesting if I could seek it out.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2017 13:03:10 GMT
It's not in the V&A archives so probably not. It was awfully dull though, you're not missing much apart from some quite nice lighting.
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Post by herculesmulligan on Feb 2, 2017 13:11:50 GMT
Thank you! I'll get the Tennant BBC Production and watch that before seeing the show.
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Post by callum on Feb 2, 2017 13:11:57 GMT
Ha, I trust your opinion Baemax - will go with Tennant instead. Thanks!
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Post by lynette on Feb 2, 2017 16:14:59 GMT
Baemax- why do you oppose R and G looking alike? The double intro in Hamlet could mean either C is stupid and/or distracted, they G has met them before cos they are H's mates or that they do indeed look alike. Doesn't seem worth getting worked up about. I like to see what each production throws up. Making one of them female is the latest idea I think.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2017 16:22:28 GMT
I just think it's a cheap and lazy gag, and when I've seen it in production, it's never done anything for the production beside produce a weak laugh for about four seconds. You see enough Hamlets, you develop firm preferences for ALL sorts of directorial and/or casting decisions.  |
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Post by ncbears on Feb 2, 2017 16:48:02 GMT
I just think it's a cheap and lazy gag, and when I've seen it in production, it's never done anything for the production beside produce a weak laugh for about four seconds. You see enough Hamlets, you develop firm preferences for ALL sorts of directorial and/or casting decisions. True. But, in school, our instructor was giving a "compare and contrast character" essay exam to multiple classes. Compare and contrast Ophelia and Gertrude. Hamlet and Laertes and Fortinbras. We were concerned our class as going to be given "compare and contrast Rosencrantz and Guildenstern". |
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Post by stompboy on Feb 9, 2017 16:18:30 GMT
Front row stalls now available for all performances...
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2017 16:44:54 GMT
It's not in the V&A archives so probably not. It was awfully dull though, you're not missing much apart from some quite nice lighting. Jude Law was the whiniest Hamlet I've ever seen... |
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Post by foxa on Feb 9, 2017 17:03:54 GMT
It's not in the V&A archives so probably not. It was awfully dull though, you're not missing much apart from some quite nice lighting. Jude Law was the whiniest Hamlet I've ever seen... I didn't think he was terrible, but he was oddly literal and extrovert in the way he played the role. Line about walking crab-like: mimes walking like a crab. That kind of thing. |
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Post by Jan on Feb 9, 2017 17:41:00 GMT
Jude Law was the whiniest Hamlet I've ever seen... I didn't think he was terrible, but he was oddly literal and extrovert in the way he played the role. Line about walking crab-like: mimes walking like a crab. That kind of thing. Did he ? Ha ha. Shakespeare interpreted through mime, rarely seen anywhere other than at the RSC. Obscure sexual allusion in the text ? Act it out in the broadest way possible while saying the line. Doubt Grandage was responsible for that, probably stood there fuming that Branagh had dumped it on him. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2017 19:28:09 GMT
Oh be fair, Dominic Dromgoole is also VERY keen on the "do a penis gesture whenever you make a penis joke" school of acting.
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Post by Jan on Feb 9, 2017 20:40:21 GMT
Oh be fair, Dominic Dromgoole is also VERY keen on the "do a penis gesture whenever you make a penis joke" school of acting. *Scratches head, strokes chin, says "hmmm"* Don't think I've ever seen anything directed by him. |
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Post by Marwood on Feb 9, 2017 22:58:38 GMT
Front row stalls now available for all performances... Thanks for the heads up -now booked for the opening night. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2017 9:56:08 GMT
*Scratches head, strokes chin, says "hmmm"* Don't think I've ever seen anything directed by him. Did he do that famous 2008 production at the 900 seat Bridge Theatre when Ben Whishaw so memorably played Julius Casear? You know, the one that Phantom of London had a vivid flashback recollection of only this morning? |
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Post by Mark on Feb 24, 2017 9:56:04 GMT
Doing a £20 ticket lottery on Todaytix!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2017 23:13:01 GMT
Was anyone at the first preview tonight?
I do regret not booking some cheap seats earlier, so I may have to rely on the TodayTix lottery!
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Post by Marwood on Feb 24, 2017 23:35:44 GMT
I'm going tomorrow.
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Post by nash16 on Feb 25, 2017 10:02:49 GMT
Was anyone at the first preview tonight? I do regret not booking some cheap seats earlier, so I may have to rely on the TodayTix lottery! First preview is tonight. |
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Post by Marwood on Feb 26, 2017 13:17:50 GMT
Front row stalls now available for all performances... Thanks for the heads up -now booked for the opening night. I went last night, and since the emails above, they've put an extra row of seating in, but second row still provided a great view of proceedings: a low stage, and the sets are minimal to say the least. I enjoyed this, but I don't know - maybe because it's been so long since I saw the film, and maybe my memories of seeing it have gone a bit rose-tinted with time, but I just thought Radcliffe's performance, was well...off is maybe being a bit harsh, but he didn't really seem to hit his stride. Joshua McGuire was far better, and seemed to get most of the laughs between R & G, but I thought the real star of this show is David Haig, performing The Player with gusto, as a kind of hybrid of Mick Fleetwood and Danny from Withnail & I, you could feel the audience's spirits being lifted everytime he is on stage. An enjoyable night out, but it will probably be a very long time again before I'd want to see another production of this. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2017 9:31:25 GMT
Well. I have to agree with Marwood. The set allows you to see just how big the Old Vic stage is. It's that minimal.
Harry Potter was OK, the Hogwarts contingent were clearly in as they laughed at most of his lines, even when they weren't funny or even delivered particularly well. He never looked particularly involved in the whole thing. Joshua McGuire was in a different league though. He was absolutely glorious, running rings around Harry without even trying. To be fair though, his is the better part and is clearly the lead, HP has the weaker supporting role so I suppose there's not a lot he can do with it. David Haig almost steals the show ("Get your skirt on Alfred") too. It's all a bit clever I suppose but then that's Tom Stoppard and it was a blessing to have seen 'Hamlet' last week so that the story was fresh in my mind in order to keep up. Some good lines but my favourite for some reason has to be:
Rosencrantz: I don't believe in it anyway.
Guildenstern: What?
Rosencrantz: England.
Guildenstern: Just a conspiracy of cartographers, then?
The punchline delivered brilliantly by McGuire. I don't know why but I laughed for ages with that one.
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Post by theatrefan77 on Feb 28, 2017 23:06:05 GMT
I thought both McGuire and Radcliffe were good, but I agree that David Haig was the real star of the show. I had seen the film but this was my first time seeing the play on stage. it works well with the minimal set. Good play, quite clever in parts. Overall enjoyable although I wouldn't rush to see it again.
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