Have to agree with you about Mariah Gale, I was indifferent until the mad scenes, where I thought she was very good. Her scenes with Laertes were definitely better than the ones with Hamlet too.
Hamlet's chemistry was better with Horatio, but then I've found that with every Hamlet adaption/performance I've ever watched. Horatio was also very good, as was the Player King.
While Patrick Stewart rocked as Claudius, I had a bit of the same problem, he was very hard to buy a murderer, until he talks to Hamlet when he's strapped to the chair, then I came around a little.
Laertes was a little annoying, but then I think that's the character more than the performance. I've never been a huge fan.
I really liked Tennant as Hamlet, but then Hamlet is a play and character I love and I also adore David Tennant, so really, it was a pretty low bar he had to get over for me. He was funny, and there were a few very Ten intonations in the way he said things including a very Ten 'Welll ..' which made me laugh, although part of me was a little thrown out of he flow of the play by them. On a slightly shallow note, did love him wandering around in bare feet and jeans doing soliloques.
Anyway, I seem to have rambled on a bit, I was just happy to see someone else discussing it. :)
Agreed on Hamlet + Horatio. (I don't know if I ship it, myself.)
'Slings and Arrows' has spoiled me for Hamlet/Ophelia because the way they play it is that the two actors are having a backstage romance, and a fairly convincing one, so we have the benefit of the two levels of awareness when their scenes are up.
While Patrick Stewart rocked as Claudius, I had a bit of the same problem, he was very hard to buy a murderer, until he talks to Hamlet when he's strapped to the chair, then I came around a little.
I forgot to mention this and the barefooted Hamlet, both of which I found effective! D'oh.
Laertes: my interpretation instructor loves him, but it hasn't completely rubbed off.
I was surprised I didn't love him more in it, as I do love Ten. But I was overall very satisfied. Glad to chat it out with someone, always. :)
Have to agree with you about Mariah Gale, I was indifferent until the mad scenes, where I thought she was very good. Her scenes with Laertes were definitely better than the ones with Hamlet too.
Hamlet's chemistry was better with Horatio, but then I've found that with every Hamlet adaption/performance I've ever watched. Horatio was also very good, as was the Player King.
While Patrick Stewart rocked as Claudius, I had a bit of the same problem, he was very hard to buy a murderer, until he talks to Hamlet when he's strapped to the chair, then I came around a little.
Laertes was a little annoying, but then I think that's the character more than the performance. I've never been a huge fan.
I really liked Tennant as Hamlet, but then Hamlet is a play and character I love and I also adore David Tennant, so really, it was a pretty low bar he had to get over for me. He was funny, and there were a few very Ten intonations in the way he said things including a very Ten 'Welll ..' which made me laugh, although part of me was a little thrown out of he flow of the play by them. On a slightly shallow note, did love him wandering around in bare feet and jeans doing soliloques.
Anyway, I seem to have rambled on a bit, I was just happy to see someone else discussing it. :)
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'Slings and Arrows' has spoiled me for Hamlet/Ophelia because the way they play it is that the two actors are having a backstage romance, and a fairly convincing one, so we have the benefit of the two levels of awareness when their scenes are up.
While Patrick Stewart rocked as Claudius, I had a bit of the same problem, he was very hard to buy a murderer, until he talks to Hamlet when he's strapped to the chair, then I came around a little.
I forgot to mention this and the barefooted Hamlet, both of which I found effective! D'oh.
Laertes: my interpretation instructor loves him, but it hasn't completely rubbed off.
I was surprised I didn't love him more in it, as I do love Ten. But I was overall very satisfied. Glad to chat it out with someone, always. :)
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