Captain Picard and The Doctor do Hamlet.
Jan. 2nd, 2010 10:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dragonzfaerieI know that sounds like really bad crossover slash fiction but I promise it's not.
Actually, it is David Tennant, who is well known for his role as the tenth incarnation of the Doctor from "Doctor Who" but almost no one remembers from a BBC version of Casanova. This past year he was to play Hamlet for the RSC but injured his back and only performed eleven times. Shortly after this it was announced that this was being converted to a film version.
Patrick Stewart played opposite him as Claudius. (Yes, I really did get my geek on for this one.)
This has now arrived and aired the day after Christmas. Tonight, I watched it and was very surprised. It had the feel of a stage production in its simplistic sets, complete reliance on actors instead of effects, and somewhat ambiguous time and place. Yet, it did not fall into the trap of using stationary cameras. Giving it the best of both worlds.
Tennant's lightning-fast pace allowed the whole play to be done in 3 hours, but this didn't kill the pacing of the play.
I think the best part, however, was the way that each actor made their characters thier own. Hamlet is done so often that a lot of times when I think of a line I remember it the way this actor or that actor preformed it. This Hamlet was definitely David Tennant's Hamlet and no one else's. The Ophelia, Laertes and Horatio likewise didn't fall into the drudge of a stock character.
All in all, I liked it a lot.
Actually, it is David Tennant, who is well known for his role as the tenth incarnation of the Doctor from "Doctor Who" but almost no one remembers from a BBC version of Casanova. This past year he was to play Hamlet for the RSC but injured his back and only performed eleven times. Shortly after this it was announced that this was being converted to a film version.
Patrick Stewart played opposite him as Claudius. (Yes, I really did get my geek on for this one.)
This has now arrived and aired the day after Christmas. Tonight, I watched it and was very surprised. It had the feel of a stage production in its simplistic sets, complete reliance on actors instead of effects, and somewhat ambiguous time and place. Yet, it did not fall into the trap of using stationary cameras. Giving it the best of both worlds.
Tennant's lightning-fast pace allowed the whole play to be done in 3 hours, but this didn't kill the pacing of the play.
I think the best part, however, was the way that each actor made their characters thier own. Hamlet is done so often that a lot of times when I think of a line I remember it the way this actor or that actor preformed it. This Hamlet was definitely David Tennant's Hamlet and no one else's. The Ophelia, Laertes and Horatio likewise didn't fall into the drudge of a stock character.
All in all, I liked it a lot.
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Date: 2010-01-04 09:21 am (UTC)