To thine own self be true.

[gemsybobsy]

Haha, how relevant a title in light of my previous ramblings.

Small 'making of' video clip.

My favourite scene from the RSC's 2008 production of Hamlet - I was enthralled. This production is the best I've seen. I love Shakespeare set in modern times/dress. The appearance of this performance (new 'n' shiny) and the way the actors have portrayed the characters and their actions is amazing. There are many examples of specific moments I loved - here's one: I noticed that it seemed that Gertrude knew the cup was poisoned (OMG SPOILERS!) before she drank. Interesting. I'd never thought of it that way before. Penny Downie is fantastic - such a strong performance of a character I always thought of as ridiculously weak. Patrick Stewart is awesome at being evil. And of course, I adore the way DT plays up Hamlet's sense of humour. And, guh, he's so intense. Wow. I won't go on. I know there are different versions and old quartos and so on, but were some things cut out? I think? It's been years since I read the text of course. Not complaining though - I wish I'd got off my arse sooner and managed to get tickets to see it in the theatre. I might go and see Jip.

It's one of those plays I've always wanted to see on stage, as the story (well, the soliloquy) fascinated me so much when I studied it briefly for an abstract play we did in AS level drama that I ended up reading it all at home. I felt I had to really, as a lover of literature - it being Shakespeare's most famous play and all. I find some of his stuff a bit of a chore to read to be honest (especially some of the comedies - ladies dressed as men? Disgusting) but some of them really get inside you and just... flow. I love Hamlet for this reason - you can read so much into every line, it's so beautifully written, plenty of humour, melancholy, madness and loooads of death - what else do you need, innit.

Hamlet himself is another one of those characters I really identify with, in so many ways. The chief reason being that he is just so fucking emo. The cat will mew and the black dog will have his day. Aaahaha.

Comments

[smurf-pop.livejournal.com]

Oh I LOVE Hamlet, I really do. I ended up studying it 3 years in a row at college but I just ended up learning something new about it every time. I've watched several different film interpretations (Olivier, Branagh, Almereyda, Gibson etc) and I must say, I'm torn between the Kenneth Branagh and Almereyda versions as my favourite. The Branagh one just looks so.. Opulent (and Branagh makes a great Hamlet). The Almereyda version (Hamlet 2000) is brilliant because it's set in 2000, but they still use the original language - such a juxtaposition! And I definitely get the impression from that version that Gertrude knows the cup is poisoned. Just love it <3

[thebarkside.livejournal.com]

Oooh that 2000 version is the one set in New York isn't it? Loads of GUNS 'N 'BLOOD. Ah that reminds me actually, it was all the Fortinbras stuff that was missing. Didn't really miss it though, haha.

[smurf-pop.livejournal.com]

YEAH, guns lol. Yeah, the Fortinbras stuff never really interested me much to be honest. It felt like a subplot thst was neither here nor there.

[thebarkside.livejournal.com]

Yeah innit, lol war, who cares. :D I keep meaning to watch that version all the way through, but find bits I've seen quite cheesetastic, haha.

[smurf-pop.livejournal.com]

Ethan Hawke's face at the end = </3 If you want cheesey Hamlet, watch Mel Gibson's version. Him and Helena Bonham Carter Burton Face proper ham it up.

[thebarkside.livejournal.com]

I've seen that one hahaha. CHEEEEEESE. Lol at Burton Face ahaha. <3

[hellmutt.livejournal.com]

Mmmmm.... ladies dressed as men....

[thebarkside.livejournal.com]

Inorite? :D
I was watching the old As You Like It earlier, with Helen Mirren. Good times.

[just-leonie.livejournal.com]

I knooow, it was simply fantastic and I too am unbelievably annoyed that I didn't manage to get hold of any tickets

[thebarkside.livejournal.com]

*kicks self moar*!