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. :)
Buy just about all that. I was left with the feeling that for all DT's energy and irony (ebony and ivory? :)) I didn't understand the character of Hamlet much more at the end of the show than I had at the beginning. It must have been terrific on stage and that live terrificness and intimacy would have made the sell much easier than via the detached - CCTV cams and all - view on TV.
See if you can't download DT's Desert Island Discs somewhere. It was on BBC Radio 4 last Sunday.
Was it super good? I know where to snag it but because I have limited internet right now (been 'stealing' wifi from my elderly neighbor - she doesn't actually mind, persay, but the distance and my own guilt limit me to snagging things I've REALLY wanted as opposed to taking a flier on any old thing.)
I've read the play half a dozen times and seen various TV/performances before, so I already feel like I know Hamlet's motivation, though I agree with the sentiment entirely. It never quite connects through the television.
I haven't seen this yet, but I did manage to get to Stratford last year to see it live. I do agree with you about the lack of chemistry between Hamlet and Ophelia; I remember feeling very 'meh' about them as a couple. I guess it's difficult given that Ophelia doesn't really have a lot of stage time, to show the relationship between them, but then that should make it even more imperative to consider the chemistry when casting, and not just to go for "the best actress". But I'm not a casting director, so what do I know?
On stage, both Tennant and Stewart were utterly mesmerising - whenever one of them was in a scene, it was a real effort to tear your eyes away and look at someone else!
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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. :)
Reply
See if you can't download DT's Desert Island Discs somewhere. It was on BBC Radio 4 last Sunday.
Reply
I've read the play half a dozen times and seen various TV/performances before, so I already feel like I know Hamlet's motivation, though I agree with the sentiment entirely. It never quite connects through the television.
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If you can find Morrissey's DID - that was fun!
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On stage, both Tennant and Stewart were utterly mesmerising - whenever one of them was in a scene, it was a real effort to tear your eyes away and look at someone else!
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