Jude Law in "Hamlet"
I'm just back from London, where I've seen Jude Law playing Hamlet in Wyndham's Theatre. I always admired him, but I have never seen him on stage, and, shame to me, I have never seen "Hamlet" on stage. Films, yes, a number of them, but never before have I heard the Bard's lines shouted, screamed, whispered from the stage a few meters away from me. I was mesmerized by Law's acting: he made his nervous, grief-ridden very young prince extremely convincing from the first lines. Torn by suspicions and disgust, already too distrustful of the world (the famous replica to Horatio:"There's more in heaven and on earth" is pronounced not in wonder but with a heavy sigh), he is dealt one staggering blow after another as the action moves on, yet remains standing until the very end - dying on his feet, as the last soldier holding the deserted bastion.
The staging is sombre, no colours besides murky browns and greys, the set is limited to massive castle walls and gates, the costumes hint at 30-s without being too insistent, and it's always cold in Elsinor. The snow is falling on the ghost and two soldiers, gushes of piercing wind make everyone shudder and hide in their coats. When the mad Ophelia floats onto the stage in her white dress, a ray of dusty light among shadows, flowers in her hands seem evern more unnatural and symbolic than ever.
If you are in London before August 20, go and see it - it's worth it!
The staging is sombre, no colours besides murky browns and greys, the set is limited to massive castle walls and gates, the costumes hint at 30-s without being too insistent, and it's always cold in Elsinor. The snow is falling on the ghost and two soldiers, gushes of piercing wind make everyone shudder and hide in their coats. When the mad Ophelia floats onto the stage in her white dress, a ray of dusty light among shadows, flowers in her hands seem evern more unnatural and symbolic than ever.
If you are in London before August 20, go and see it - it's worth it!