To Be or Not To Be...

The singular reason we chose to go to London this year was that Benedict Cumberbatch was going to play Hamlet.  Hamlet is one of those pinnacle roles for any theatre actor - the one every actor wants and every actor wants to perfect.  Seeing as Benedict is one of the finest actors today, it was sure to be a resounding success.  And based on the box office numbers - sold out in hours, almost an entire year before the premiere - it was due to be one.  

Then the show opened.  

Before I go on, I'd like to say I'm by no means a theatre critic.  I like what I like and often times disagree with the people whose job it is to tell me what to like (LOVED Mamma Mia, and HATED Mary Poppins.)  So my assessment may be a little off base with what others are saying. Though, I know of a few UK papers that are agreeing with me for a change so maybe I am on to something...

After a year of waiting and an arduous journey to the theatre (Thanks Tube Strike!) we arrived at the Barbican the night after the show officially opened in previews, very excited and thrilled to be there.  Of course, so were all the other fangirls that were obviously there to see Benedict in person (can't blame them there, I was there to do same thing.)

We settled into fabulous seats, and as soon as the lights went down, I was ready for the curtain to come up and for the famous first words of the text "Who's there?".  What I got was the curtain coming up with Benedict appearing on stage and much to my surprise, he was reciting the famous "To be or not to be" soliloquy.  Surely you know the one - it's usually found 2 acts later in the text. Huh?  After a masterful job, he sort of went about the business of finishing the first act of the play. Some of the most famous words in literature were sort of shrugged off to get on with the show. (I'm guessing this had something to do with wanting to get their mega-star on stage as quickly as possible so as to not start a fangirl riot - but seriously, we're much more intelligent than that.  We do have the patience to wait the few scenes for hi to appear.) It was completely strange to say the least!

That was its main problem, EVERY thing was just a little too strange.  The set was gorgeous but so intricate, you couldn't focus on everything at once.  The time period was never completely explained.  Gertrude and Ophelia were sporting some beautiful vintage gowns, that could have shouted 40s or 50s but Hamlet had a hoodie on at one point that sort of shouted today.  Then there was the weird slow motion rewind of the other actors on the stage each time a soliloquy was recited and the slow motion ballet fight at the very end.  A fight that's supposed to be tense and nail-biting is neither when done in slow motion on tiptoes...

In the end I'm very happy to say I got to see it.  I had the privilege of seeing David Tennant live (Still top of my list -  Couldn't take my eyes off of him!) so it's nice to say I've also seen Benedict.  I had thought he'd gain my full attention the entire show like David did, but unfortunately, I did find myself drifting.  And that was by no means due to it being Shakespeare.  I love Hamlet, and find it beautiful to see live.  But this production was focused more on theatricality rather than the words - which, when you're planning to see Shakespeare, is kind of the whole point.

I just wish they would have made the whole thing a bit smaller.  It's almost like the producer knew exactly what she had in Benedict, and decided she could do anything she wanted, because all the fangirls would come anyway.  At least, now that they're out of previews, they're making a few tweaks.  I almost want to see it again, just to see if the tweaks help.  I hope they do for Benedict's sake...and for everyone else that has tickets for it.