rOcKS @ 'Hamlet'
rOcKS @ 'Hamlet'
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#1rOcKS @ 'Hamlet'
Posted: 9/20/09 at 12:20am
I saw three shows in the past three days. The first (SUPERIOR DONUTS) was mediocre, the second (AFTER MISS JULIE) was a step below mediocrity, and the third (HAMLET) is a complete and utter bore.
At least in JULIE and DONUTS I wasn't bored out of my mind the way I was tonight at the Broadhurst.
There are some moments of beauty (particularly the snow/to be or not to be scene) and stretches of the production that work (mainly at the top of act two) but these are fleeting and are bogged down by an otherwise lumbering bore of a production. The direction is totally hackneyed. It's basically that stark, dreary, ominous tone that worked better in EQUUS and MARY STUART (although I didn't totally love either of those productions, either) and it brings nothing fresh to the play. There is nothing about this HAMLET that screams originality or freshness and that is echoed in the totally insipid direction by Michael Grandage.
The performances are all pretty much just passable. The girl who plays Ofelia is really not very good and the Claudius, Kevin R. McNally, reminded me of Elton John with his whole look when he stepped onstage. Anyone...?
The only reason to see this production is for Jude Law. He goes above and beyond what he has to do and turns in quite a fantastic performance. If it weren't for him, this would have been a complete misfire. I don't know if he's worth sitting through the nearly three hour long production for but he's very good.
The sets, lighting, and costumes were all nice but felt like MARY STUART ripoffs.
I just can't express how uninvolving and boring this HAMLET is. I guess the fault is with Grandage, who directs the play at a deadly pace and breathes no new life into it. Skip it unless you absolutely love Jude Law.
* out of ****
With SUPERIOR DONUTS being a disappointment for me, AFTER MISS JULIE totally underwhelming my already low expectations, and HAMLET boring me to tears, I hope this isn't an indication of the season ahead.
Updated On: 9/20/09 at 12:20 AM
#2re: rOcKS @ 'Hamlet'
Posted: 9/20/09 at 1:51am
Rocks, I completely agree with you about Hamlet. Such a dull evening of theater.
I did enjoy Superior Donuts this afternoon, though.
#3re: rOcKS @ 'Hamlet'
Posted: 9/20/09 at 11:49am
So, so far this season we seem to be 0 for 7. Nothing seems to really stand out.
Burn The Floor- It was mainly a disappointment to all Theater fans including myself.
Bye Bye Birdie- In general most people hated it, also including myself.
A Steady Rain- Although and All star cast, most have come back bored.
Superior Donuts- Seems to be a let down, I was really excited about it but I'm being turned away from the so-so reviews.
The Royal Family- According to some it's "The Royal Bore"
Hamlet- Judging from this review and many others another bore with a standout lead.
After Miss Julie- Also reported as dreadfully boring.
Hope the musicals stop this boring chain.
Updated On: 9/20/09 at 11:49 AM
Borstalboy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/9/04
#4re: rOcKS @ 'Hamlet'
Posted: 9/20/09 at 1:09pmIt's from--bow your head--London so Brantley will jizz himself.
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
~ Muhammad Ali
#5re: rOcKS @ 'Hamlet'
Posted: 9/20/09 at 1:17pmDrunkChita, maybe you should actually see all of these shows before passing judgement?
#6re: rOcKS @ 'Hamlet'
Posted: 9/20/09 at 1:24pm
Posted this on the other thread but figured I would put it here too.
I saw the show last night as well, and while I wouldn't call it AMAZING (the direction is great in a few parts and REALLY bad in others) some of the acting is great, and Jude Law is giving an INCREDIBLE performance (I was expecting him to be the weak link).
I suggest this show for anyone who wants to see a great example of a star performance, but go in knowing that the production, while beautiful, is not the best Hamlet in the world.
David walked into the valley
With a stone clutched in his hand
He was only a boy
But he knew someone must take a stand
There will always be a valley
Always mountains one must scale
There will always be perilous waters
Which someone must sail
-Into the Fire
Scarlet Pimpernel
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#7re: rOcKS @ 'Hamlet'
Posted: 9/20/09 at 1:42pm
I haven't seen BTF, BIRDIE, ROYAL FAMILY, or A STEADY RAIN yet.
I'm going to A STEADY RAIN & WISHFUL DRINKING next week and may try to squeeze in one of the others. I want to see BTF just to see it but I hear it's awful.
#8re: rOcKS @ 'Hamlet'
Posted: 9/20/09 at 2:03pm
"DrunkChita, maybe you should actually see all of these shows before passing judgement?"
Am I really being judged again for this? I never said I thought these shows were boring. These statements were generalizing. You may have noticed in my post I said the following:
"Burn The Floor- It was mainly a disappointment to all Theater fans INCLUDING MYSELF (Meaning I saw it).
Bye Bye Birdie- In general most people hated it, also INCLUDING MYSELF (Again, meaning I saw it).
A Steady Rain- Although and All star cast, MOST have come back bored. (Most people have come backed bored)
Superior Donuts- Seems to be a let down, I was really excited about it but I'm being turned away from the so-so REVIEWS. (I'm not judging it I just said that most of the reviews so far have been So-So)
The Royal Family- ACCORDING to some it's "The Royal Bore" (I never said I thought it was a "Royal Bore"
Hamlet- Judging from this review and many OTHERS another bore with a standout lead. (Other's not mine, just a general statement).
After Miss Julie- Also REPORTED as dreadfully boring. (People have come back saying that) "
#9re: rOcKS @ 'Hamlet'
Posted: 9/20/09 at 2:07pmIt just seems so silly to sum up what people are saying like it's the end-all be-all. It's all a matter of opinion. The critics may love these productions.
#10re: rOcKS @ 'Hamlet'
Posted: 9/20/09 at 2:45pmWow. I'm shocked by this review, as HALMET was the best show I've seen all season. I thought it was one of the fastest 3 hours and 15 minutes in recent memory. Loved Jude Law and the rest of the cast, and the audience at the first preview seemed to love it as well. I hope it gets very positive reviews.
#11re: rOcKS @ 'Hamlet'
Posted: 9/20/09 at 4:18pmI had a great time at BURN THE FLOOR and plan to go back. It was certainly not awful.
#12re: rOcKS @ 'Hamlet'
Posted: 9/20/09 at 7:00pm
Honestly, the posters on this board are so predictable. Except for maybe AUGUST, there's not been a single play that hasn't criticized by most/all for being "boring" or "pointless" or "mediocre." Honestly, some days I think you all just want revivals of musicals.
When GOD OF CARNAGE first started previews, I remember scores of posters coming back with "it was okay." A STEADY RAIN boring? Are you kidding? SUPERIOR DONUTS is delightful and charming, but you all brand it "mediocre" because it isn't exciting like AUGUST?
Don't get me wrong, y'all are wrong about musicals frequently too (don't think I forget the ecstatic raves on 9 TO 5), but I always know exactly which posters to completely disregard when it comes to plays. You all seem to bore easily when actors are talking rather than singing.
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#13re: rOcKS @ 'Hamlet'
Posted: 9/20/09 at 7:35pm
Not true at all.
I enjoyed quite a lot of the plays from last season. If I don't enjoy a show, revival or original, musical or play, I'm going to say so. It has nothing to do with it being a play or a musical...
And there's no such thing as "being wrong" about how you feel about a show. If you don't enjoy it or if you do enjoy it, that's your opinion. There's no one show that EVERYONE loves and the people who don't love it aren't "wrong."
There's no such thing as a "wrong" opinion...
And I did not think SUPERIOR DONUTS was mediocre because it's "not as exciting as AUGUST." I gave my reasons for not liking it in my review and did not compare it to AUGUST once except at the beginning when I said it wasn't as good, which I think most EVERYONE can agree on.
Updated On: 9/20/09 at 07:35 PM
bway boy
Understudy Joined: 8/1/09
#14re: rOcKS @ 'Hamlet'
Posted: 9/20/09 at 8:28pmso many people thought exit the king was boring but brantley and i both thought it was incredible so.....
best we know x
Chorus Member Joined: 6/7/06
#15re: rOcKS @ 'Hamlet'
Posted: 9/20/09 at 8:41pmI actually have to disagree with you on the boring part of this review...while the production does have its flaws and it isn't the best Hamlet ever, Jude Law is giving a phenomenal performance and I didn't find myself bored at all.
You're a writer...write me a letter.
#16re: rOcKS @ 'Hamlet'
Posted: 9/20/09 at 10:46pm
MiracleElixir, I also have to disagree. I have loved many of the plays. I adored Norman Conquests, and I like God of Carnage very much (I'm too young to really appreciate it), I LOVED August: Osage County, I'm one of the few that actually liked Blithe Spirit (Didn't it get sort of a mediocre reviews?), and I also loved Boeing Boeing, but I did find Exit The King to be painfully boring.
And ljay889, you obviously don't get the point of generalizations. I'm saying once again that judging by most of the feedback on many of the currently open productions this isn't a great season so far.
#17re: rOcKS @ 'Hamlet'
Posted: 9/20/09 at 11:03pm
And ljay889, you obviously don't get the point of generalizations.
- Coming from a 14 year old..... It's a school night, go to bed.
Updated On: 9/20/09 at 11:03 PM
#18re: rOcKS @ 'Hamlet'
Posted: 9/21/09 at 7:31amThat was your best come back? You should try working on that a little more, get back to me later.
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