Hamlet

I've tried to get into Shakespeare multiple times, but I could never really do it. Not only was it hard for me to understand some of the lines, but most of the time, it all just seemed too... theatrical. I'd also brushed off modern interpretations of Hamlet before, because to me, they previously seemed less... authentic.

However, I opened my mind and watched this show, and here's what I have to say:

Andrew Scott and co. Pushed the boundaries of interpreting Hamlet's tragedy-and it paid off very well.

Scott doesn't portray Hamlet as just a tragic, brooding prince. He doesn't depict him as either fully sane or insane. He portrays Hamlet as human-and he does it exceptionally well. He brings out Hamlet as a grieving son, a maddened and introspective prince, a betrayed and lonely man, and an intelligent, vengeful strategist. There are so many layers and depths to unpack in Andrew Scott's interpretation, and he portrays the Prince of Denmark in a way that is so visceral, using not just his voice but his entire body. Despite Shakespeare's complex use of language, it never came off as pretentious or difficult to follow.

And it's not just Andrew Scott's Hamlet that's special. The entire cast understood their assignments, and every single actor delivered with equally powerful performances.

I now understand what the rave is about, and why so many people claim Hamlet to be one of the greatest literary characters ever created. It's thanks to the talented actors and actresses involved in this production that each of their respective characters wasn't just brought to the stage-but brought to life.

No scene or moment felt wasted. No dialogue was stretched too long. No character felt like a caricature. Gertrude didn't feel like just a cruel mother. Ophelia's part didn't feel like tragedy for tragedy's sake. Polonius didn't feel like just an important piece to the plot. Hamlet's dynamics with every single character in the story felt alive and real. The few hilarious moments hit. The intense moments made me sweat. The introspective moments made me reflect. And the sad moments made me weep.

Everyone understood the job and brought to life what is, arguably-in my opinion-probably the most human interpretation of Hamlet of all time.

Masterpiece. 10/10.

Kudos to the BBC for attempting an almost full-text version of Hamlet, but... it's a shame they don't follow through on it. There are various textual changes and additions which only serve to undermine the quality of the play. Stick to Shakespeare, for Pete's sake.

The production has good things (most notably the always professional Juliet Stephenson); a few scenes are well-done, and overall it's certainly watchable. But its greatest weakness is Andrew Scott. He is a very weird Hamlet. Hamlet must, generally, seem intelligent, assertive, confident, except in certain scenes - but Scott's way of playing him is flailing, chaotic, confused and strangely soft and quiet, which is not in character for Hamlet. The worst is all the soliloquies, which sound slow and clueless, spoken in an inconsequential low style that robs them of all sophistication and fascination. Scott doesn't seem to know what he is doing/saying. Which is disastrous; an actor should be able to at least pretend to know what his character is about. Maybe this is just Andrew Scott's acting style, but... it didn't work for me.

This is a lengthy version of Hamlet. It retains the last words of Fortinbras at the finale which often gets excised.

It is an adaptation in modern dress set in modern day Denmark. It is an Almeida Theatre adaptation ad filmed almost like a stage play, although there are video news inserts of breaking news such as the old king dying. Some liberties are taken such as Guildenstern being portrayed as a black woman.

The standout performance is Julia Stevenson as Gertude, widow of the old king, mother of Hamlet and now all loved up with Claudius, the old king's brother. This is shown in the production, as Hamlet speaks we see Gertude and Claudius kissing in the backdrop at a party. No wonder Hamlet is going mad.

Andrew Scott has attracted criticism for his role as Moriarty in the television series Sherlock, making him out as a mischievous petulant child than a master criminal. Here Scott gives a downbeat performance, a young man who has the weight of the world on his shoulders. He is certainly a man in mourning and also with burning anger as he sees what is going around him. Sometimes the mannerisms of the role he is more known for creeps in.

There was less comedy here as well, the one that bought the giggles in the theater was when everyone warmly greeted Guildenstern and not Rosencratz.

However watching three plus hours in one sitting of a play that has not fully opened up for the television screen does make your mind wander no matter how intense some of the actors are. It has not been long since I saw Kenneth Branagh's filmed version of Hamlet which was shot for the big screen and had an all star cast which I found more riveting.

Was lucky enough to see this production at the National Theatre in 2018... four rows back from the stage. Scott was amazing as Hamlet. Then I saw him in Present Laughter at The Old Vic just last summer. Another brilliant, but very different performance. I guess I am a fan!

Unlike a lot of the pretentious Shakespeare plays, almeida's Hamlet is stagecraft and magic. The acting is superb in it, making the old words and the modern dress match perfectly, so that we know exactly what the actors are saying, even if we do not understand it literally.