as one does
the test: act 1, scene 2
Click to viewAssessing and modifying my feelings about the Danish prince for his first launch.
Just to get everyone on the page: above we have the auteur most recently known as “Viktor Cherevin” in his 1996 film turn. The latter is the Tenth Dr, Who working alongside Professor X in a Royal Shakespeare Company re-staging for film from 2009.
When I was first taught the scene, I was strongly encouraged to pin it down as much as possible; in this, I feel that Branagh accomplishes most. Within the arc of what Tennant does with the character - considering specifically the significant change of amplitude with each subsequent soliloquy - sometimes I think he takes things a few inches too far for a man who's not yet set a plan in action, much less encountered the things that will ultimately bring down Elsinore.
All that is ultimately to say that discounting any physical lust for Kenneth Branagh I may still have, his first act hews pretty closely to the tone I feel for the character as I read it, where Tennant… I may need to watch that a few more times. I like the things he's using to solve soliloquy-to-camera challenges, but sometimes I think he's pushing things a little harder than might be justified.
And no, I don't really know why I do so much analysis of Shakespearean roles that I'm too old or too black to play. It's just something that gets into my brain. There are most certainly worse things to be than a mildly pretentious Shakespearean hobbyist.