703 posts
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Post by theatremiss on May 13, 2023 19:18:09 GMT
Can’t get the scene with Gatiss and the young man at his apartment out of my head. Just some of the best acting I’ve seen in so long. I’m exactly the same. Acted beautifully with such emotion. I hope Gatiss gets an award for this performance |
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Post by Latecomer on May 13, 2023 21:12:25 GMT
We knew from that opening scene which exuded bonhomie from the assembled lovies that things would fall apart into disharmony and by the end all would return with mutual warmth and love.. But isn't what happens in between the whole point? Why and how it falls apart and how and why it all comes back together? {Spoiler - click to view}
Yes and it’s about vulnerability and what actors bring to the part of their personality and character and aging and celebrity. It’s got lots to say. And I, for one, was quite surprised by the take they finally decided on for why Hamlet did not act sooner and thought it was a “eureka moment”. I love it when someone subverts the words Shakespeare wrote and moulds it to their own ends!
I thought it was quite touching re both main characters, one who seemed to have lived his best life early and the other who is striving to be “good enough” and not an imposter. |
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Post by David J on May 15, 2023 0:48:04 GMT
Saw this on Saturday
This certainly has things to say but the execution is predictable and plodding at times
The length is felt during the recitals of the hamlet speeches and scenes. And sure we’re watching the rehearsals but all you get is the actors playing the actors who performed in this historic production.
Jack Thorne thinks he’s made something profound but you can just predict the next scene where Tuppence Middleton can get a look in as Elizabeth Taylor, or where everyone is at their low point, or the moment when John Gielgud shows vulnerability, or the eureka moment.
And it’s a eureka moment that comes out of the air. A better writer would be dropping bread crumbs over Richard Burtons issues growing up.
So sadly it’s a play that lifts the surface up but doesn’t delve deep beyond that.
Johnny Flynn is the reason to see this. He brings so much energy and liveliness as Richard Button. In contrast I found Mark Gatiss gave a good performance as Gielgud that wasn’t merely impersonation. But in comparison to Flynn his range barely moves beyond seasoned actor who is closed off and struggles to be director.
And you can sense Sam Mendes seeing this show through a wide angle camera lens the way it’s staged. Also this production uses that film trope of using text over a long shot image of main character telling what happened afterwards
Had its moments with some humour here and there. But nothing extraordinary
3.5 stars
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Post by wiggymess on May 16, 2023 12:02:25 GMT
Possibly a daft question this, but if you've a complete tin ear for Shakespeare and never (despite many attempts) managed to develop any sort of interest in it, is it worth seeing this?
Everything else sounds right up my street - love the cast, love the themes and it being a true story etc, but it may be a waste of time me trying if I've no interest at all in Shakespeare?
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Post by alessia on May 16, 2023 14:46:15 GMT
Possibly a daft question this, but if you've a complete tin ear for Shakespeare and never (despite many attempts) managed to develop any sort of interest in it, is it worth seeing this? Everything else sounds right up my street - love the cast, love the themes and it being a true story etc, but it may be a waste of time me trying if I've no interest at all in Shakespeare? I have a limited interest in Shakespeare (more because it's so hard to understand!) - I'd say limited in my case, rather than zero interest, and I loved this play. |
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Post by jampot on May 16, 2023 14:50:40 GMT
Possibly a daft question this, but if you've a complete tin ear for Shakespeare and never (despite many attempts) managed to develop any sort of interest in it, is it worth seeing this? Everything else sounds right up my street - love the cast, love the themes and it being a true story etc, but it may be a waste of time me trying if I've no interest at all in Shakespeare? I have a limited interest in Shakespeare (more because it's so hard to understand!) - I'd say limited in my case, rather than zero interest, and I loved this play. Me too! |
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Post by wiggymess on May 16, 2023 15:05:14 GMT
Possibly a daft question this, but if you've a complete tin ear for Shakespeare and never (despite many attempts) managed to develop any sort of interest in it, is it worth seeing this? Everything else sounds right up my street - love the cast, love the themes and it being a true story etc, but it may be a waste of time me trying if I've no interest at all in Shakespeare? I have a limited interest in Shakespeare (more because it's so hard to understand!) - I'd say limited in my case, rather than zero interest, and I loved this play. Perfect, thank you. |
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Post by eatbigsea on May 17, 2023 7:29:58 GMT
I enjoyed this very much and thought that Mark Gattis and Johnny Flynn were both excellent. I’m afraid I agree that Tuppence Middleton was miscast - I’ll have to see it again when it transfers to Broadway and they cast someone else in the Elizabeth Taylor role. Liz had a beautiful speaking voice, much less nasal than what Middleton is doing here.
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1,280 posts
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Post by theatrefan77 on May 17, 2023 11:50:41 GMT
I thought this was absolutely wonderful. Saw it from the front row, perfect view for £20. Glad I didn't get one of the £10 rush tickets in the last row of the Circle as I think some moments would have lost impact from so far away. It was good that the national released front row seats as the same time as the rush tickets. Not sure if this happens every week or I just got lucky.
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Post by theatrelover97 on May 17, 2023 13:25:29 GMT
I have tickets for this but am not sure.if I can make the date so will have to consider the west end transfer if I cant.
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Post by NeilVHughes on May 20, 2023 17:24:47 GMT
Most excellent.
Everything about it was perfect, the intermingling of Gielgud and Burton’s persona through Hamlet were revelatory.
A knowledge of Hamlet provides a depth that would be missing if you did not know the play but still a great play even if you have never seen Hamlet.
Googled afterwards as did not want any spoilers before seeing it, there is a professionally filmed stage recording available, extremely rare and expensive one for NT Live to get the rights to as would love to see it.
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Post by kt12 on May 21, 2023 21:54:36 GMT
Great example of hype over substance. Ultimately I kept thinking a play about a production of Hamlet in the late 60's seemed oddly pointless. In the hands of a better playwright some parallels could have been drawn about modern theatre, celebrity, the creation of theatre etc etc - but what we got was a straight-forward telling of the process of that particular production. Gatiss - good. Flynn - over-egged plus some extended Shakespearean 'padding'. Checked my watch several times - which says it all...
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Post by edi on May 23, 2023 8:15:13 GMT
I am in the not-keen camp but cannot explain why.
There were some truly amazing bits, mostly when Gielgud is concerned.
For some reason I didn't buy Elizabeth Taylor.
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Post by raiseitup on May 24, 2023 16:35:49 GMT
Regularly refreshing the NT site worked and managed to get some £20 front row tickets for this weekend. There's quite a few left for both the matinee and evening if anyone else is looking
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Post by Rory on May 24, 2023 18:24:33 GMT
I wonder if the transfer will be announced at this in mid June?
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Post by Dave B on May 24, 2023 18:51:24 GMT
I wonder if the transfer will be announced at this in mid June? Transfers & Dorfman post August & Lyttelton post September.. & Hadestown casting? |
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Post by QueerTheatre on May 25, 2023 0:25:13 GMT
saw this tonight & found it a complete slog. Sure it's worth it if you like shakespeare maybe but i just found the stakes so low and the pacing so slow.
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Post by nottobe on May 25, 2023 19:55:58 GMT
I wonder if the transfer will be announced at this in mid June? Could Norris also be announcing a step down as AD, maybe for end of 2024? That would be a big reason to bring back these press events. |
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Post by Jon on May 25, 2023 20:09:49 GMT
I don't see Norris stepping down until 2025.
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Post by jm25 on May 26, 2023 22:43:00 GMT
I thought this was absolutely sensational. I love Hamlet so I suppose I was always going to like this to some extent, but I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did. It was fantastic writing elevated by beautiful performances. Everything I ever want theatre to be.
The 'Eureka' moment really floored me and took the play to a whole new level. And the final few moments might just be my favourite ending to a play ever.
Just wonderful all round.
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Post by Being Alive on May 26, 2023 23:48:49 GMT
I believe RuNo is leaving end of 2024
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Post by Latecomer on May 30, 2023 18:29:37 GMT
I got the books used in research for this play by Jack Thorne from my trusty library….and it defies belief how Richard L Sterne (who had a minor part in the play) got his information to write his book!
He basically hid a portable tape recorder in a large briefcase and put it in the rehearsal room recording for 3 hour chunks.
When Gielgud and Burton had a closed rehearsal Sterne got there early, hid himself and his tape reorder under the rehearsal platform and recorded it all secretly. When they left he was about to emerge when the stage manager came into the room to do some sound tapes for the show…so he ended up having to stay hidden for 6 hours!
“In later weeks I told Gielgud and Burton of the tapes I had made. Both reacted favourably and amused such a project had been carried out”
Well!
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Post by alessia on May 31, 2023 5:20:08 GMT
I got the books used in research for this play by Jack Thorne from my trusty library….and it defies belief how Richard L Sterne (who had a minor part in the play) got his information to write his book! He basically hid a portable tape recorder in a large briefcase and put it in the rehearsal room recording for 3 hour chunks. When Gielgud and Burton had a closed rehearsal Sterne got there early, hid himself and his tape reorder under the rehearsal platform and recorded it all secretly. When they left he was about to emerge when the stage manager came into the room to do some sound tapes for the show…so he ended up having to stay hidden for 6 hours! “In later weeks I told Gielgud and Burton of the tapes I had made. Both reacted favourably and amused such a project had been carried out” Well! Yes I read about this in the programme, isn't it incredible?? |
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Post by barelyathletic on May 31, 2023 9:52:00 GMT
Saw this on Monday. Thought Gatiss and Flynn were both very good, the latter coming particularly close to the distinctive Burton voice and mannerisms. But the first half, I thought, was a little tedious. Too many chunks of Hamlet, not enough of the rehearsal of these or real life drama. It's only when Burton begins to kick off that it starts to get interesting. Thought the second half was much better but it really is a two man show. Taylor is a pretty thankless role and the rest of the cast have very little to do and very little impact on the play (though of course Janie Dee is grand in her few moments in the limelight). I went with a Hamlet/Gielgud enthusiast who loved it and a friend who worked for Burton and Taylor in 1969/70. She thought Flynn caught something of the man but that Tuppence Middleton didn't come close to Taylor (as did I) but, to be fair, who could? Overall I felt the play lacked real purpose and drama. I'll probably read it now though to see if that was just me missing something. Three and a half stars.
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