A thoroughly boring Hamlet

[adamgreer]

A thoroughly boring Hamlet#1

Posted: 9/17/09 at 12:05am

Thank goodness I was convinced to buy the cheap seats for this one, and didn't spend more than $25.

This is not a terrible production of Hamlet. That would have at least made it interesting to watch. It's just not the least bit engaging, and about 15 minutes in, I was thinking about the things I need to get done at work tomorrow and what I need to get at the grocery store this weekend.

There's nothing particularly innovative or inventive about the staging, and it feels like the sort of thing your local regional theater could put on. It doesn't have the zip and pop that the recent Macbeth revival (which I admit, is a play I like a LOT more to begin with) had.

The performers are all ok, but no one stands out, not even Law, except for the gentleman who played Polonius. The woman playing Gertrude looked and sounded exactly like Jayne Atkinson, and I found myself spending an inordinate amount of time thinking about that, because the play was so unengaging.

Technically, the production is fairly stark, and the lighting is a series of shadows. Is that the only way people know how to create an "eery" atmosphere now? Shadows and fog?? Because there's plenty of both in this production.

Act 2 just drags on and on.

Definitely not a must see.

[once a month]

re: A thoroughly boring Hamlet#2

Posted: 9/17/09 at 11:36am

OUCH! Sorry you feel that way. I guess I'll just have to be content in the memories of Law standing up in the bathtub in Indiscretians. I will never forget that show!

[Jordan Catalano]

re: A thoroughly boring Hamlet#2

Posted: 9/17/09 at 11:37am

I figured this. Luckily I only sprang for the $25 seats as well, so if I need to "step out" after Act 1, I won't feel too bad.

[NotScott]

re: A thoroughly boring Hamlet#3

Posted: 9/17/09 at 7:27pm

Has anybody seen any discounts for this yet? Broadwaybox.com has nothing. I think it is too late for me to grab a $25 seat. Can we expect it on TDF or TKTS in the future?

[RentBoy86]

re: A thoroughly boring Hamlet#4

Posted: 9/17/09 at 7:31pm

Too soon to tell.

But this is only one opinion.