Some people, who already saw Hamlet, write about the experience:

http://londonabovegirl.tumblr.com/post/125972461103/hamlet-review-spoiler-free-2am
 

THIS:
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/we-shouldnt-be-such-snobs-about-people-seeing-hamlet-for-benedict-cumberbatch-10443999.html

I'm 'finally' back home and will try my best to come with a review and discription. 

I know this thread has spoiler in the title... but warning... I might get spoilery!


First of all: WOW. W.O.W. 

It still feels a bit unreal that it actually happened, that I actually got to fulfil this dream!
There were so many bumps on the way, way before I even purchased my ticket... and not to mention getting lost because the website hadn't updated with roadwork for the busses and closed stops... having to take the bus at all because the tube was on strike, my toes bleeding and as per usual my hip and back locking. 

But I FINALLY made it to the Barbican (despite my phone deciding to suddenly not know where in the world I was...) and getting my ticket from the box office went smoothly since being in good time, despite getting lost and hopling miles in bad shoes, I still had hours to spare. 

My seat really was as close as I had guessed from the pictures of the building of the stage. I could almost touch it from my seat. 

Coming into the theater the stage was hidden behind a wall of black shining and reflective panes (some people I sat next to discussed if this was on purpose, as Hamlet is said to 'reflect on a persons psyche and put up a mirror')... either way, it also served to stop people from leaking pictures of the production. 

When the walls finally moved down they revealed a very emotional Benedict, going through a picture album and then other effects belonging to his late father. 

I have to admit my mind did do a "SQUEE OMG OMG OMG, BREATHE". He was right in front of me! But it only took a second before I was fully focussed as he started to act. 

He started out with 'To Be or Not To Be' which for a second confused me... having read the play a million times I know that's not how it goes. But it worked so well. 

The stage was beautiful. So many details, so many little things to discover, and the modern (and yet no so modern after all) take on Hamlet still with the original dialogue was just superb. It was dark and still light enough. 

There were times I was laughing so hard. I won't spoil too much about that scene because it works with the element of surprise... but let me say Benedict is the most hilarious tin soldier!! 

The scenes where he plays mad, Ben is just... gosh, a comical talent! 

He was jumping, running, sprinting, diving and ducking... gosh he was fit! 

If I ever doubted his talent (not that I did), this proved his genious. I am in awe. 


If I try to be unbiased and pretend I am not a Cumbercookie, (what I am even more now) this was still my favourite version of Hamlet I have seen yet. Everything from the staging to the actors, the music... it was perfect. 

The story was easy to follow too, I know I have read the play so many times, and I did find myself mouthing along a lot. And smiled as some of my favourite passages were delivered, but I imagine if you were new to Shakespeare you could still follow it quite well. 


Benedict is my favourite Hamlet. 


And now I think I need to attempt to sleep... I'm still high from all of this! 




Oh, and I didn't stay around hoping to catch Benedict and beg for an autograph... I don't know if I regret that, but I don't think he's doing that. 
But, the actor who play Horatio (I keep forgetting his name GRRR) he was coming out and no one really noticed him, and I was trying to make my stupid phone work so we sort of bumped into each other. 

Close enough. 



ETA: I think I got some of Benedicts spit or sweat in my eye at one point. He was up on the balcony shouting, and by then all the running he had done had him wet with sweat... and some kind of liquid landed in my eye. 

I am never washing my eyeball again! 

Last edited by This Is The Phantom Lady (August 7, 2015 11:48 pm)

That is exectly what they did, he was going through his fathers things, and recited that to himself.... it made perfect sense! It was just the first few seconds that confused me... literally seconds. 

Thank you, Phantom, glad you had such a great experience. Now I am getting even more excited. 

Yitzock wrote:

Silly alliterations aside, WE HAVE PHOTOS!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11791099/Hamlet-in-a-hoodie-first-pictures-of-Benedict-Cumberbatch-on-stage.html

Great photos, I love them!


 

I saw that earlier today, I am so ashamed he even had to say that! 

There were so many Barbican staff holding big signs saying No Phones and No Cameras, and they were spending ages trying to get people to shut off their phones. 

You know, I would have loved to have taken a picture, but have some bloody respect. This play is hard work for all the actors and Ben has so many lines to remember. 
 

Oh. God. Yes. And the voice. And the lovely way he talked to the fans. 

I really hope that they will manage to ban all recording devices. 
 

He is gorgeous *thuds*

I do love how he handled this, and I can only hope people will finally get it. 

He looks absolutely gorgeous!!!
And I am so sorry for him that he really had to ask for this. Shouldn't that been taken for granted?