BBC Sherlock Fan Forum - Serving Sherlockians since February 2012 » Hamlet at the Barbican

This Is The Phantom Lady · August 15, 2015 7:50 pm

I finally found the song they were playing at the very start of the play... I can't stop playing it and getting goose flesh!

"Nature Boy" by Nat King Cole. Wow.

kornmuhme · August 15, 2015 9:42 pm

I agree with tonnaree: I love books, their smell, feeling the pages running through my hands ... Nevertheless an ereader has tons of advanatges ;-).

tonnaree · August 15, 2015 9:46 pm

kornmuhme wrote:
I agree with tonnaree: I love books, their smell, feeling the pages running through my hands ... Nevertheless an ereader has tons of advanatges ;-).

Coffee or Tea?
Star Wars or Star Trek?
Chocolate or Vanillia?
Books or Ereaders?

You can't make me choose! I WANT IT THE THINGS!

tonnaree · August 15, 2015 9:46 pm

TOPIC!

Benedict is doing some play by this old fart named William.

discuss

ukaunz · August 15, 2015 10:48 pm

This Is The Phantom Lady wrote:
I finally found the song they were playing at the very start of the play... I can't stop playing it and getting goose flesh!

"Nature Boy" by Nat King Cole. Wow.

Oh wow, the lyrics fit so well with Hamlet! Did they use the Nat King Cole version? That would set an interesting tone for the play. God, I don't know how I'm gonna wait until November to see it!

This Is The Phantom Lady · August 16, 2015 12:58 am

They did indeed use that version! And it makes perfect sense for the play they set up.

I just keep seeing that scene in my head when I play the song...

This Is The Phantom Lady · August 18, 2015 8:23 pm

Apparently they are making some changes before opening night... When I saw it the play started with 'To be or not to be' in a very emotional setting, and I really enjoyed it (even though having read Hamlet a million times I did wonder...) but what a loss if this scene is lost.

In the scene he is putting his fathers things away, as Nature Boy with Nat King Cole plays on a grammophone and he fights with tears before he is interrupted by Horatio...

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/08/17/benedict-cumberbatch-s-hamlet-gets-a-rewrite-in-lo-ndon.html

REReader · August 18, 2015 9:06 pm

That's why they have previews, so they can make changes before opening night. (And that is why it's not cricket to review before opening night.) (And why it really isn't right to charge full price for tickets to previews, but of course if they can get it, they do. )

Davina · August 20, 2015 10:50 pm

The scene itself will not be lost but is is being put back in its original place later in the play. The change to the start was generally poorly received.

tonnaree · August 20, 2015 10:57 pm

I am dissaponted. I wanted to see that scene done that way.

Yitzock · August 20, 2015 11:09 pm

I agree. I like it when people make artistic changes, because ultimately they should do things that they want for their interpretation. From what I remember, even scenes in the Kenneth Brannagh film were out of order, so why not do something different. I'm sure it would still be impacting.
I guess when they film it, it will be the same old way then.

SolarSystem · August 26, 2015 6:28 am

There are reviews in some German newspapers today, I couldn't find all of them online though. One can be found in the print version of the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung", it's a pretty critical one.
Here is another one:
http://www.welt.de/kultur/buehne-konzert/article145638857/Benedict-Cumberbatch-kann-auch-Sein-oder-Nichtsein.html

And another one, also pretty critical:
http://www.nzz.ch/feuilleton/buehne/sein-oder-nichtsein-ist-hier-keine-frage-1.18601638

Last edited by SolarSystem (August 26, 2015 6:29 am)

Ivy · August 26, 2015 8:01 am

Good that they explained the previews again, that's weird. In Germany we have general rehearsal to see how it looks and then "off we go!"

SolarSystem · August 26, 2015 9:07 am

Yes, it's a bit confusing. There seems to be a whole different 'tradition' behind those previews. I'm still not sure I like the idea. I'd think that a director does have a vision and he/she develops that vision further with the actors and the crew. And after six weeks of rehearsal you go and present it to the audience. Of course it's interesting to see how the audience responds to it, and of course you want to give them something that most of them will like, but quite frankly: It's your vision, your interpretation. There should be an idea behind it. So why change it during three weeks of previews?

Lilythiell · August 26, 2015 9:59 am

Not to mention that it has to be a bit confusing for the actors.

gently69 · August 26, 2015 10:20 am

Is that a common thing to do for plays in Britain? The previews and changing the play during that time?

SolarSystem · August 26, 2015 11:19 am

Yes, I think it is. That's why I mentioned the 'different tradition'.

Tinks · September 1, 2015 9:37 am

Hi everyone
I saw it a couple of nights ago - here's my personal view:

I thought the set design was absolutely stunning.
The production was very absorbing - it certainly didn't feel as though I'd sat there for over three hours!
Benedict's performance was very, very good indeed; he's so at home on the stage, and with Shakespeare
Honestly? I'd have liked to see some stronger casting alongside him - one performance in particular didn't sit right with me - maybe it was the direction, I don't know, but it was the only time I was not lost in the show, when this character had their "big" moment.
The rest of the cast were good but not, in my opinion, outstanding.
On the whole though I enjoyed it immensely as did my non-Shakespeare loving, non-Benedict fan partner, who thought both the play and Benedict were "excellent"

Last edited by Tinks (September 1, 2015 9:39 am)

tonnaree · September 1, 2015 12:39 pm

Always good to hear that a non-fan thought highly of it.

This Is The Phantom Lady · September 1, 2015 1:06 pm

It's easy for a fan to be 'blinded' by the fact that it's Benedict. Great to hear that non fans enjoy it too!

And I can only agree with your review, Tinks!!