HENRY V eventually moving to Broadway?- Page 2

[curtain_call]

Posted: 11/23/13 at 9:50pm

Well, glenbuck...how was it? I'd love to hear your review.

[wonkit]

Posted: 11/24/13 at 9:36am

Well - I have taken this so off-topic that I will feel free to answer my own question. I went back and looked at whatever documentation I could find, and here's what I found. Choosing the five HAMLET productions I have seen with names that people might recognize, all of the actors playing Hamlet were between 32 and 37. (With the others, it would be my best guess since I have no way to check their ages.) Some seemed rather particularly mature (John Neville, 32, Christopher Plummer, 35, and Nicol Williamson, 34) and some seemed younger and more excitable (Jude Law, 37, and Gareth Saxe, 34). Williamson appeared the oldest of the lot, and Saxe the youngest, even though they were of an age. (Actors in the 1950s and 60s seemed much older at the age of 30 than actors nowadays.) But they all seemed like adults.

Did anyone see Richard Burton? He seemed pretty damn "adult" for Hamlet at the time, and I adored him, but never saw that performance.

[The Glenbuck Laird]

Posted: 11/24/13 at 2:53pm

Well Curtain Call here goes. This is my two penneth worth.

Saw Henry V last night a decent night at the theatre. I thought Jude Law was really impressive. My favourite parts were Henry V's sililoquies. The St Crispins Day speech alone is worth the Broadway transfer.

Minimal stage but great use of lighting, quite dark in places. Another good performance from Ashley Zhangazha. I enjoyed his performance in the recent Fences revival in the West End.

But... this was my first Henry V. I left the theatre numb, no more confused. I couldn't work out why this was not brilliant theatre.

Do I prefer other plays? I certainly prefer Macbeth and Othello as plays. Would I benefit seeing the play again? Probably. Interested to read others thoughts as more people see this play.

[eperkins]

Posted: 11/25/13 at 3:29pm

Gee - I think the youngest Hamlet I've ever seen was in his late 20's. The oldest - probably in his 40's (late 40's). Seriously, the writing is so good, that it can be pretty easy to forget how old Hamlet "should" or should not" be. It so depends on the actor. I just would Like to see a younger actor portray the character. I do think that was what Shakespeare intended. I did think Jude Law was a wonderful Hamlet, and he "felt" young to me. Or young enough.

It's funny, but we assume Romeo is very young from his description and the things he says and does and who his friends are, but his actual age is never mentioned. He could be 30! That's why I say, if you just remove those two short passages in Hamlet that actually seem to say Hamlet is 30 -- how old would you really think Shakespeare meant Hamlet to be?

[wonkit]

Posted: 11/25/13 at 3:35pm

SInce Shakespeare wrote (or adapted) his plays to suit performers in his acting company, he may have wanted Hamlet's age to be ambiguous so that the role would fit a range of actors.

So my next logical question would be, is there currently a young 20-something actor who could play young AND do justice to the role? The only one I can suggest would be Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

[eperkins]

Posted: 11/25/13 at 4:14pm

JGL I bet would be terrific. I'd pay to see him do Hamlet. Of course, he's already 32! I know that's hard to believe. Daniel Radcliffe might be good. He's 24.

Just an edit to add Asa Butterfield. He's only 16, but I'll bet he could play the role.

Updated On: 11/25/13 at 04:14 PM

[wonkit]

Posted: 11/25/13 at 6:41pm

Any of them have classical training? It is a very long part, and requires stamina that only someone with classical training can be expected to have.

JGL 32 - holy cow. Maybe that's why I thought of him? I think he could play much younger, if directed properly.

[eperkins]

Posted: 11/26/13 at 12:02pm

I don't know that any of them have classical training, and I know it's a bear of a part. But I'd like to see the attempt, anyway.

[curtain_call]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 6:10pm

Looks like Jude Law is receiving rave reviews for his performance. Henry V is also selling plenty of tickets. The production ends its run in February. I assume we'll hear something soon about a Broadway transfer.