Squee!

[clair_de_lalune]

Just got back to the hotel room after seeing Hamlet. It was definitely worth renting a car and driving to Iowa City for (see here)! :-D The seats were excellent - at the same level as the stage and with only 6 rows in front of us. The actors often ran up and down the aisles near our seats (I was sitting at the 3rd seat in from the aisle).

Comments

[freggythepod]

LUCKY! David Tennant as Hamlet? Really? That must have been brilliant! I can imagine how great his "mad" scenes must have been. XD

[clair_de_lalune]

Yes, I think that "bonkers" is his particular ... talent ... specialty? I wasn't sure that he didn't overplay it just a bit, though ... Patrick Stewart's performance was much more subtle. On the other hand, Hamlet obviously isn't the same as Claudius and I enjoyed watching watching Tennant (as well as Stewart and the rest of the cast) very much. :)

I do think that the audience was very informed by Tennant's portrayal as the Doctor, which distracted me from the play at times. Mainly, I don't think that the audience would have laughed so much at his portrayal of madness, if it had not been for his performances in Doctor Who. I mean, sometimes Hamlet says funny things, but is his madness inherently more funny than Ophelia's? Or is it just that everyone thinks he's feigning it? Not that any of that has to do with Tennant's performance itself. He occasionally hit a word with the kind of emphasis he often uses for the Doctor, but for the most part seemed like Hamlet.

(BTW, when I first mentioned to cynodd and crabbydragon that Tennant would be

[cynodd]

(BTW, when I first mentioned to cynodd and crabbydragon that Tennant would be playing Hamlet, one or both thought he was too old for the part; however, it seems that Hamlet's age given within the text of the play is 30 - so, not too old.)I thought Mel Gibson was too old, too, and he was 34 when he played Hamlet. Tennant is 37

[rattlesnakeroot]

I think of Hamlet as under-thirty, too. I've never even thought about him being older, and I thought Mel Gibson was also too old.

I wouldn't imagine Tennant as Hamlet. It's a really interesting casting decision.

[hp_lexicon]

Wonderful! Sounds like an incredible show.

[clair_de_lalune]

It was really fantastic to see! :-D

Sorry we didn't manage to swing by the south coast for a visit. Vacations are always too short.

[hp_lexicon]

That's quite alright. I knew it was a long shot. I'm glad you're having a great time, though.

[cynodd]

He was close enough for me to see the masseter muscle in his right cheek moving,

:) That is so you to describe it this way! :)

Glad it was good & you had no problem with tickets.

[rattlesnakeroot]

Yes, let's be precise about his cheek muscle! *lol*

But it's awesome he was so close to you, Clair! What a chance of a lifetime to see that cast in Hamlet!

[wimble_mimble]

Oh wow! That sounds fantastic!