"The play's the thing!" - A wonderful weekend in Stratford-Upon-Avon

[gruaig_rua]

AKA the David Tennant Stalkathon!

What follows is sort of a transcription from my Old Skool Journal (aka a notebook and pen!) written during intervals and in the early hours of the morning having seen Love's Labour's Lost and Hamlet this weekend.  I hope it's coherent enough to follow (the typing is certainly more legible than my handwriting!).

Comments

[artic_fox]

Looks like you and I had similar seats for Hamlet!

Most of the Hamlet productions I've seen (mostly film, or amateur plays, I admit), have never really emphasised the comedic side of the play, even though it is a tragedy. The middle part of the play with Hamlet play acting his madness was hilarious, especially the scenes with Polonius: "Worrrddsss..". I never expected to laugh so much, but David bought such energy and different of tone to a usually pretty stereotypical tragic character (or stereotypical in the way that I've seen it played before). I only wish I'd had the chance of an autograph, but sadly not so, but I may try and go to the stage door here in London once it opens.

[gruaig_rua]

I was surprised at how funny it was too. When you think of Hamlet going mad, normally it's all "sturm und drang". The manic madness that DT played was a refreshing interpretation.

As for the autographs... What I'd suggest you do is to try get an autograph after a show you're not going to. That way you have time to get a good position in the first couple of rows because, quite honestly, if you're further back, it's not worth your time. Hope you get lucky though.

[artic_fox]

I'm not going to a showing here in London, simply because tickets are so expensive now! So I was definitely planning on going to the stage door and try my luck that way!

[gruaig_rua]

::Blush:: Thank you! Not freaked out in the slightest!!
It was lovely going to the theatre outside of London for a change. And you never know, DT might make it to Broadway!

[quillons]

Over from Tennant love as well...
I was crushed not to be able to go on a tour! Thank you for sharing the info.
I am so with you and taking a crack at that stage...one can always dream right??
Hamlet was breath taking and I actually liked LLL for once (I have always loathed it)
Thanks for sharing the write up!

[gruaig_rua]

My first experience of LLL was watching it in Stratford and I'm sorry not to get to see that production again, unless it gets a DVD release. I'm so thrilled I go to go on the tour. I chanced my arm and turned up without a ticket (as did a few others. Because it was the last one of the season, they allowed us extras to tag along and I'll be ever grateful to them because it was so much fun.

[gruaig_rua]

Hope you're feeling better. I spent the guts of this week sick as a small hospital. I'm over the snotting and coughing and am now, quite literally, silent. I've completely lost my voice and it is not fun!