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Post by kathryn on Sept 2, 2017 7:59:37 GMT
So were those critics incredibly lucky or did everyone at the Times and the Gruan have orders to enter the ballot and take the critic with them?
I'm glad they did, anyway. I was beginning to think they'd *all* decided not to! Interesting comments about the lack of press-night ballyhoo - maybe critics should review ordinary performances more often! And the reviews seemed not to suffer for being of what would normally be a 'first preview' - though I guess with Hamlet you don't really need an audience to work out what works and what doesn't, unlike a new piece. Unless it's CumberHamlet.
Of course Branagh's version is the Scandi noir version! Why didn't I guess that in advance?! Obvious connection to make when you think about it.
Lol at Hiddles can't sing. He can, with enough practice, carry a tune well enough. It's not his strength at all - he's no Oscar Isaac, who also sings in his Hamlet - but he can manage it. So was not doing so a failure of performance or a deliberate choice? Be interesting to hear if he always sings badly in it or if some nights he manages to be in tune.
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Post by popcultureboy on Sept 2, 2017 8:22:04 GMT
Of course Branagh's version is the Scandi noir version! Why didn't I guess that in advance?! Obvious connection to make when you think about it. Robert Icke's version was also influenced by Scandi noir and is in modern dress......This is all such a massive vanity project dressed up as being a charitable act. No critics were invited. My guess would be the entire staff of both newspapers entered the ballot and took the critic as their plus one. |
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Post by kathryn on Sept 2, 2017 8:30:36 GMT
🤣 I've just seen the pictures. Hiddles wearing the same clothes he wears all the time. It's literally his 'uniform' - grey boots, black jeans, black coat (it's nicknamed the 'cuddlecoat' by fans). Hilarious!
I swear that man must be allergic to clothes shopping. It's not like he couldn't afford to buy new clothes for a costume!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2017 8:38:49 GMT
Bit of a coincidence that a couple of critics who then write decent reviews managed to be successful in the ballot...
This whole thing is starting to leave a bit of a sour taste.
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Post by kathryn on Sept 2, 2017 8:39:47 GMT
Of course Branagh's version is the Scandi noir version! Why didn't I guess that in advance?! Obvious connection to make when you think about it. Robert Icke's version was also influenced by Scandi noir and is in modern dress......This is all such a massive vanity project dressed up as being a charitable act. Icke's was similar enough to his Oresteia design that it just looked like his 'style' to my eye - in the same way as van Hove has a recognisable style to his production designs. Yes, it's a vanity project. Maybe Hamlet sort of always is a vanity project - done because the people involved want to tackle it rather than because anyone is crying out to see another one. It's just particularly noticeable this time because the fundraising is so clearly a justification for it. |
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Post by kathryn on Sept 2, 2017 8:47:17 GMT
Bit of a coincidence that a couple of critics who then write decent reviews managed to be successful in the ballot... This whole thing is starting to leave a bit of a sour taste. I was talking about this on Twitter with someone the other day, that there's a risk with such an exclusive production that you watch it with a happy glow and forgive its faults because you're just glad to be there. That's why I'm glad that there are professional reviews. I know we don't always agree with the critics in this board - and on a few occasions I've wondered if they saw the same production as me - but at least they can generally be relied on not to be overawed just by being there. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2017 9:13:55 GMT
So I was there last night and yes this is a very good Hamlet as you would expect from a team and cast like this but is it the best,no. I may have a few spoilers in thins post so sorry but I'm sure most of you are just curious to know what it wasn't like. When you went in the stage was bare except a piano and when the play opens it opens with Tom Hiddleston playing a song about his fathers death. This was a pleasant surprise and Hiddleston has a nice voice. More set came on the stage and I haven't seen It but this show reminded me of something like house of cards in a big political world. I don't know how much they cut but they definitley cut the first scene. For me the first half dragged a little towards the end as you were waiting for the interval and it only ended a few scenes after polonais was killed, 1 hour and 50 minutes through. That made the second half feel a bit flat as thepace dipped. The second half was only 50 minutes. And 3 hour in tota with a short 10 minutes interval.This production was in modern dress of suits and other characters in jeans. Hiddleston did where his coat quite a bit but at one point in a madness scene had a danish flag around him and face paint.
This version was also very classically delivered sometimes with not enough emotion behind the lines. This might also change however as this is the first preview but when you see the Andrew Scott Hamlet and how naturally it was delivered think that you will struggle to find Shakespeare performed like that. Hiddlestons Hamlet was well acted and him madness scenes did get good laughs. The rest of the supporting cast were also very good and I think there wasn't really a well link between them .i did particularly like Ansu Kabila as king hamlet/player king/grave digger and also Nicholas Farrel as Claudias.
if this went to the west end I could see it going to the Donmar warehouse but also dpfeel it would make a good movie or to version as some scenes i tight would work quite well on screen. I don't want to compare but I did watch parts of it thinking the Almeida hamlet did it bettering esspecilay the madness scene and end scene which I found a lot more touching in the Almeida. But yes this is a good production that I enjoyed and am glad I saw and feel very privileged and lucky to see it and hope it gets a wider audience.
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Post by Squire Sullen on Sept 2, 2017 9:44:47 GMT
Many thanks to robadog as without him I wouldn't have seen it (being the lucky recipient on the ticket offered a couple of pages back).
It's a strong Hamlet, classically delivered but in modern dress with a Scandi edge and isn't groundbreaking but it's Branagh directing so it's hardly surprising. Very little set (Gertrude's bedroom consists of a posh silk sheet and some pillows thrown on a desk that is used throughout) but there's some excellent lighting throughout. Zips along at a fast rate, but the first half of 1hr50 became a struggle as I was sat on a chair you'd find in a doctor's waiting room.
The scenes with his father's ghost left me underwhelmed, largely due to some cheap ghosty sound effects, but other than that it's a very strong production. Loved the climatic scene, felt very visceral (despite a lack of blood) and I very much felt part of the action. Great chemistry between Hamlet and Horatia particularly in that last scene and I was thoroughly moved (albeit slightly less than the Scott/Icke one that remains my gold standard for this play).
Hiddleston is a strong Hamlet and very at home with Shakespeare, and I thought he had a much stronger presence here than in Coriolanus (probably cos I was sat closer here and wasn't seeing the third show of a three show day as I did at the Donmar). For the Hiddleston fans, he sings and plays the piano at the start (with slightly strained voice) and dances (to some disco, sadly not to that terrible new TSwift song). One unexpected highlight was Hiddleston delivering the line "what an ass am I" as the guy in front of me clearly mouthed "oh yes he is" to his companion). Strong supporting cast but I wasn't all that convinced by Nicholas Farrell as Claudius until the church scene and Lolita Chakrabati was especially good in the bedroom scene. Sean Foley was a great sycophantic Polonius, and suffers many pratfalls. Some great visual gags as well.
Overall I'm so glad I saw it (thanks again robadog) and I left moved, impressed and once left appreciating the play, what more could I ask for? But I'll have a year off from Hamlet for now or at least until the next must-see one.
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Post by Marwood on Sept 2, 2017 11:50:17 GMT
Mention of a rapping gravedigger isn't what I wanted to hear going into this...
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2017 12:52:26 GMT
I love that some critics are up in arms that some critics seemingly won the ballot and have reviewed it.
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Post by kathryn on Sept 2, 2017 18:44:46 GMT
Ooh, are they? Can you point me to them?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2017 13:15:45 GMT
Ooh, are they? Can you point me to them? I for one am enjoying Mark Shenton's outraged incredulity that he isn't getting in there (and presumably he would expect a plus one as well). |
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Post by kathryn on Sept 6, 2017 13:35:18 GMT
Ah, yes, good old Shenton can always be relied on to have a moan - I saw his tweets.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2017 13:52:13 GMT
Gosh, what a whiny knickers Mark Shenton is! People don't half get on their entitlement high horse when you tell them they're not guaranteed to be able to get tickets to a show. We can't all see all the shows all the time, Mark. Welcome to the world of the average punter who has to pay for their own tickets and only if we're able to get in there before they sell out. Maybe it sucks but I'm paying my own way for >150 shows a year and I have to choose what I'm going to miss out on because I can't fit in *all* the shows on top of my full-time job; I simply cannot find it in me to feel sad that critics will best-case have to buy their own tickets/worst-case miss out all together on a whole two shows in that same year.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2017 14:05:14 GMT
Honestly he's more drama than what's on stage (ooh unintentional pun there I'm leaving it!!) As a sometime (unapaid) critic I always thought it was my 'job' to go where I'm invited but not assume I'm invited everywhere if that makes sense? It's not a fundemental human right to be invited to shows, even if it is you 'job' to do so. Same way if I work somewhere I'm not automatically invited to every freebie dinner or drinks reception the company might organise.
Talking of critics, I see another was advertising for an 'employee' who would be paid two days a week but expected to be 'on call' via email for the rest of that time...for minimum wage. Erm how about no, and how about you do some work yourselves people?
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Post by couldileaveyou on Sept 6, 2017 14:21:44 GMT
It's a shame Shenton can't see Hamlet, I would have loved to read his review of the seats and the toilets of RADA
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Post by Jan on Sept 6, 2017 14:23:07 GMT
Honestly he's more drama than what's on stage (ooh unintentional pun there I'm leaving it!!) As a sometime (unapaid) critic I always thought it was my 'job' to go where I'm invited but not assume I'm invited everywhere if that makes sense? It's not a fundemental human right to be invited to shows, even if it is you 'job' to do so. Same way if I work somewhere I'm not automatically invited to every freebie dinner or drinks reception the company might organise. Talking of critics, I see another was advertising for an 'employee' who would be paid two days a week but expected to be 'on call' via email for the rest of that time...for minimum wage. Erm how about no, and how about you do some work yourselves people? Of course famously there was a theatre critic who didn't write any of his own reviews for years and all the other critics knew this but in some sort of form of solidarity kept quiet about it - it is similar to some other trades where their loyalty to each other ranks higher than any responsibility to the public. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2017 14:25:32 GMT
Honestly he's more drama than what's on stage (ooh unintentional pun there I'm leaving it!!) As a sometime (unapaid) critic I always thought it was my 'job' to go where I'm invited but not assume I'm invited everywhere if that makes sense? It's not a fundemental human right to be invited to shows, even if it is you 'job' to do so. Same way if I work somewhere I'm not automatically invited to every freebie dinner or drinks reception the company might organise. Talking of critics, I see another was advertising for an 'employee' who would be paid two days a week but expected to be 'on call' via email for the rest of that time...for minimum wage. Erm how about no, and how about you do some work yourselves people? Of course famously there was a theatre critic who didn't write any of his own reviews for years and all the other critics knew this but in some sort of form of solidarity kept quiet about it - it is similar to some other trades where their loyalty to each other ranks higher than any responsibility to the public. Indeed. Though this one just wanted some donkey work done for side projects. For which they tried to 'employ' me as a 'volunteer' and got told to shove it when they started insisting I do a certain amount of work every day before 11am. To which I replied 'I have a day job where I'm poorly paid to be at that hour' |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2017 14:42:01 GMT
It's a shame Shenton can't see Hamlet, I would have loved to read his review of the seats and the toilets of RADA Oh if the RADA toilets could talk they'd have a few tales to tell I'm sure... |
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Post by kathryn on Sept 6, 2017 14:54:43 GMT
It's a shame Shenton can't see Hamlet, I would have loved to read his review of the seats and the toilets of RADA I've been amused by complaints about RADA box office staff barking orders at people/generally not giving good customer service. It seems some people don't quite realise that RADA isn't really set-up for 'event theatre' and the behaviour of crazy fangirls (I can say that, 'cos I'm a crazy fangirl). They must be feeling a bit overwhelmed on the box office! |
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Post by lynette on Sept 7, 2017 11:32:32 GMT
Well why didn't they find a bigger place and let more people cough up their dosh to support the cause, eh?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2017 12:17:19 GMT
Well why didn't they find a bigger place and let more people cough up their dosh to support the cause, eh? Because they didn't have to? It's not really about the money, it's more of a vanity project surely? Let's do it in a 160 venue space for three weeks and make it the talk of the town! It's more an opportunity for Hiddleston to say he has played Hamlet, whilst not taking too much time out of his Hollywood schedule and if he can help his old school out whilst doing so, why not? |
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Post by kathryn on Sept 7, 2017 12:39:02 GMT
The funny thing is that Hiddles doesn't currently have any work commitments announced past February next year.
Presumably he is actually booked up and it just hasn't been announced yet, but it does make you wonder...
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Post by theatremadness on Sept 7, 2017 12:44:21 GMT
The Stage have reviewed and given 3 stars, though they seem to praise Hiddles. Not read the whole thing because of the damn paywall, but I haven't heard Mark Shenton throwing his toys out of the pram about Natasha Tripney from The Stage securing tickets supposedly through the ballot like everyone else like he did for the other papers that have reviewed so far?! Come on Mark.....double standards!!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2017 13:18:23 GMT
If you go via google, the Stage paywall doesn't kick in. The article title is "Hamlet starring Tom Hiddleston – review at Vanbrugh Theatre, London – ‘Hiddleston shines’", so google that and you'll be able to click and read the whole thing.
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