#1
Posted: 9/12/08 at 11:48am
Having received an exexpected benison, I found myself at the RSC's hot-ticket show last night, and in many ways, it didn't disappoint.
There are some typical Greg Doran defects- overly static monologues and some dubious pacing in the 2nd act, but overall this is a vibrant show.
David Tennant is fine, (though not quite as compelling as I'd expected in the final scene). Not up there with Branagh and personally I loved Ben Whishaw's Old Vic Dane. Two major revelations, though:
1) Patrick Stewart's Claudius is masterly and delightfully subtle. Seemingly frail, forgetful and doddering, his ruthlessness only emerges very gradually.
2) Oliver Ford Davies is utterly hilarious as Polonius- a role that can easily be irritating was perfectly formed and brought the house down.
The set was clean and the cracked mirror effect works very well to symbolize the royal court falling apart. Lighting was ok but generally functional, I found.
If for some utterly unexpected reason more tickets become available and you get lucky, you'll find the 3 1/2 hours flying by.
There are some typical Greg Doran defects- overly static monologues and some dubious pacing in the 2nd act, but overall this is a vibrant show.
David Tennant is fine, (though not quite as compelling as I'd expected in the final scene). Not up there with Branagh and personally I loved Ben Whishaw's Old Vic Dane. Two major revelations, though:
1) Patrick Stewart's Claudius is masterly and delightfully subtle. Seemingly frail, forgetful and doddering, his ruthlessness only emerges very gradually.
2) Oliver Ford Davies is utterly hilarious as Polonius- a role that can easily be irritating was perfectly formed and brought the house down.
The set was clean and the cracked mirror effect works very well to symbolize the royal court falling apart. Lighting was ok but generally functional, I found.
If for some utterly unexpected reason more tickets become available and you get lucky, you'll find the 3 1/2 hours flying by.
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