Hamlet
I've started watching RSC's production of Hamlet with David Tennant and Patrick Stewart on YouTube. Have made it through right after Hamlet screams "Get thee to a nunnery!" at Ophelia, and so far, I'm beyond impressed. Outside of some awkward moments where you can tell the directions didn't translate well from stage to screen (this is a film version of the theatre production done last year by the Royal Shakespeare Company) and that I'm torn about whether or not I like the actresses for Ophelia and Gertrude, I think this may top Kenneth Branagh's movie--and I've LOVED that version for years! I honestly think David is THE BEST Hamlet I have seen thus far. He is so natural (actually, 98% of the time, how everyone recites the dialogue flows incredibly naturally, which is how Shakespeare should be done) and so believable--I'm finding myself so carried away by his performance.
And yes, his "To Be or Not to Be" is perfection, since that is the soliloquy against which all Hamlet actors are judged. He does not do it in a grandiose manner as it is generally done. He sounds tired, confused, thoughtful, sad, hurt, and on top of that, he's faking insanity. This is what Hamlet is supposed to be feeling: a juggernaut of emotions playing with and against each other.
As for Polonius, my other favorite character? Perfectly done. I enjoyed Richard Briers' portrayal (in Branagh's version) and the actor who played him in the last Guthrie production, but those were portrayals of a Polonius who was arrogant and, despite his rambling, in control and forceful. Here, when he rambles, he sounds so serious and takes no notice (or is confused) when others expresses their annoyance with him. He reminds you of a doddering old person you may know of in real life, and this person takes no notice of others' opinions about him or herself and never shuts up. And this is also the first time I've seen Polonius lose his trail of thought and wonder what it was he was saying. I have never seen that done before. Mucho props to that!
I'll be sure to post the rest of my thoughts when I finish it. There are still many more major, important scenes coming up that I'm very intrigued to see (Ophelia's mad scene, for example)!
And yes, his "To Be or Not to Be" is perfection, since that is the soliloquy against which all Hamlet actors are judged. He does not do it in a grandiose manner as it is generally done. He sounds tired, confused, thoughtful, sad, hurt, and on top of that, he's faking insanity. This is what Hamlet is supposed to be feeling: a juggernaut of emotions playing with and against each other.
As for Polonius, my other favorite character? Perfectly done. I enjoyed Richard Briers' portrayal (in Branagh's version) and the actor who played him in the last Guthrie production, but those were portrayals of a Polonius who was arrogant and, despite his rambling, in control and forceful. Here, when he rambles, he sounds so serious and takes no notice (or is confused) when others expresses their annoyance with him. He reminds you of a doddering old person you may know of in real life, and this person takes no notice of others' opinions about him or herself and never shuts up. And this is also the first time I've seen Polonius lose his trail of thought and wonder what it was he was saying. I have never seen that done before. Mucho props to that!
I'll be sure to post the rest of my thoughts when I finish it. There are still many more major, important scenes coming up that I'm very intrigued to see (Ophelia's mad scene, for example)!