A Hamlet to forget
Matthew d'Ancona 3:06pm
Was I at a different production of Hamlet to that described so rapturously by the critics today? The Donmar’s West End season began with a sublime Ivanov, in which Kenneth Branagh, gave a never-to-be-forgotten performance. Branagh was meant to direct Jude Law in the fourth and final play in the quartet, but pulled out, leaving Michael Grandage to do the honours. Now, I am a huge fan of both Grandage and the Donmar, but I have to say that this Hamlet was, to my eyes at least, nothing short of a stinker.
The Prince of Denmark should be frangible and ill at ease, not posturing and poised. You have to believe in the “antic disposition” or at least be forced to ask whether it is all an act or not. This is why Ben Whishaw’s Hamlet at the Old Vic in 2004 was so heart-stopping: one felt he might explode or fragment into a thousand pieces at any moment, that the “too, too solid flesh” really might melt.
Jude Law is too delighted to be Jude Law to ask the question “To be or not to be” with any conviction: you feel that what he really means is – “To be fabulous, or to be even more fabulous”. The torment and insanity seemed like so much thespian sticky-back plastic, grafted on in rehearsal, and more than once I found myself wondering why I had paid to attend a celebrity reading of Hamlet at Shoreditch House.
Penelope Wilton is a superb Gertrude and I liked the nicely-judged pomposity of Ron Cook’s Polonius. Gugu Mbatha-Raw is surely the most beautiful Ophelia to have graced the London stage for years and will, one felt, grow into the role with each performance.
But it is hard to believe Jude when he cries “I loved Ophelia”. This Hamlet is in love with one person: himself.
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Suki
June 4th, 2009 3:30pm Report this commentEven theatre now grovels before celebrity.
Matthew, I recommend you have a Spectator outing to The Winter's Tale and The Cherry Orchard now in rep at the Old Vic and there you will see some grown-up theatre. Take Melanie Phillips along with you if she hasn't already been (we know from her Spectator blog she is a big Simon Russell Beale fan, and, as ever, her judgment is impeccable).
Verity
June 4th, 2009 3:54pm Report this commentFunny! But then, Jude Law is a great subject to be funny about.
Raffles
June 4th, 2009 3:55pm Report this commentInteresting, Charles Spencer was a big fan but i think he has gone soft after getting abuse from Lipman and Dench for poor reviews.
Griffith
June 4th, 2009 5:33pm Report this commentYes, you most definitely must have been at a different production from everyone else. What I saw was amazing.
Austin Barry
June 4th, 2009 6:07pm Report this commentJude Law's somewhat obscure talent is receding quicker than his hairline.
Verity
June 4th, 2009 7:11pm Report this commentAustin Barry, oh! - that is so meow! Are you actor yourself, darling?
George
June 4th, 2009 7:13pm Report this commentI saw Hamlet on the first night of previews and I agree with most other critics I've read, not this one. Jude Law was the best thing about the production, in my view. In fact, I wondered whether Michael Grandage spent rather too much time making sure Law's performance was credible, to the expense of the other actors, who often seemed way off the mark. Ophelia was anything but mad, usually villainous uncle Claudius seemed cuddly and non-threatening, and the Ghost wandered back and forth behind a wisp of smoke with unconvincing otherworldliness.
I wish that reviewers would stop comparing one performance with another - most of us didn't see David Tennant or the 2004 Old Vic performance - and judge what they see at face value. In this case, I think an honest, un-jaded reviewer would have recognised a fine performance from Mr. Law.
Outlander
June 4th, 2009 8:54pm Report this commentTo me this review sounds like it is coming from someone who just truely dislikes jude law and/or the idea of hollywood actors doing theatre.
I have absolutely no problem with people that do not share my poinion, but comments like "Jude Law is too delighted to be Jude Law" or "This Hamlet is in love with one person: himself" sound like biased opinions about Mr Law himself rather than comments about his performance.
I must say I really enjoyed the whole play and thought that Mr Law's performance was brilliant.
I also particularly liked Gugu Mbatha Raw's performance as Ophelia. The only actor that wasn't able to convince me was the one playing Claudius.
I should probably add that it was the first time I saw Hamlet on stage so I cannot agree or disagree with people comparing it to Tennant's or anyone else's Hamlet.
Austin Barry
June 4th, 2009 10:04pm Report this commentVerity
Well, a couple of years in play-as-cast rep. Doesn't count really, does it darling?
startrap
June 5th, 2009 2:56pm Report this comment"Well, a couple of years in play-as-cast rep. Doesn't count really, does it darling?"
Well yes, it counts, but it does rather make one wonder what happened next.
Kieran Daly
June 24th, 2009 9:17am Report this commentYour contempt for Law's celebrity is rather undercut by your weakness for Gugu Mbatha-Raw's beauty. Although of course it should certainly help her, one feels, "grow into the role with each performance". Stick to politics Matthew
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