Shakespeare’s immortal “To be, or not to be” takes on a whole new meaning (and medium) as classical stage and screen actors David Tennant and (recently-knighted) Sir Patrick Stewart reprise their roles for a modern-dress, film-for-television adaptation of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) 2008 stage production of Hamlet. The production will be presented on PBS by the Great Performances series on Wednesday, April 28, 2010, at 8 p.m. EST (check local listings). Immediately following the broadcast, the film will be available online in its entirety here on the Great Performances Web site.
Preview the film:
Hamlet aired in the UK on Boxing Day at Christmastime 2009, and more than 900,000 viewers tuned in for the BBC broadcast. In an article in The Observer, Britain’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown wrote: “Like many people, I had my love of Shakespeare reawakened by David Tennant’s TV portrayal of Hamlet over Christmas.”
Best known for his performance in the title role of the popular British TV series Doctor Who since 2005, Tennant made his debut in October as the host of MASTERPIECE CONTEMPORARY on PBS. His many other credits include his recent portrayal of Barty Crouch Junior in the big-screen blockbuster Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Tennant has also received numerous awards from the theatre community for his lead roles in several Shakespearean productions and other classic plays.
Veteran stage and screen actor Sir Patrick Stewart reprises his 2009 Laurence Olivier Award-winning role of Claudius in the screen version, which is directed by Gregory Doran, who also returns to reprise his stage direction of the production. Co-produced by Illuminations Television and the RSC for the BBC, in association with Thirteen for WNET.ORG and NHK, the adaptation recreates the tone and atmosphere of the stage production in a film-style interpretation shot in HD on location at St. Joseph’s College in Mill Hill, London. The production is produced for television by John Wyver and Sebastian Grant.
Great Performances is funded by the Irene Diamond Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, Vivian Milstein, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, public television viewers, and PBS. Major support for the telecast is also provided by the LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust. For Great Performances, Bill O’Donnell is series producer; David Horn is executive producer.
I find the variety of replies fascinating. The range of interpretations attests to the effectiveness of the production. I agree with those who appreciated the accessibility of David Tennant’s performance, which I found highly intelligent and deeply felt as well as original. The emphasis on the sense of the words brings fresh life to the poetry, with new insights into its intention and thus a new appreciation of its beauty. By contrast, I disagree with those who appreciated Patrick Stewart for his more measured “speaking of the lines with beauty.” Bill Williams is right to place Stewart in the tradition of Olivier, for this was Olivier’s style. Olivier was still dominant when I was in high school and had my first encounter with Hamlet on stage — at the Old Vic with Richard Burton. Burton, the stage actor become big screen star, was clearly anxious to avoid “declaiming the purple passages” but lacked the conviction of what I suspect was his instinct to emphasize Hamlet’s mental and spiritual turmoil rather than his words. As a result, he appeared intimidated by the role and his soliloquies were almost inaudible. It was not until Branagh came along that speaking the lines more for their direct and practical or intimate meaning than for their beauty became legitimate. For that I believe we have a lot to thank “Brash Ken” for.
That evolution, or revolution, has also allowed actors to give us new insights into parts that were once often little more than caricatures. One of the great strengths of this production lies in the balanced ensemble of completely fleshed out characters. Penny Downie and Oliver Ford Davies are superb but we also feel we get to know even Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern and the First Player.
Like Alison, I found the diversity of responses fascinating; it speaks to a production’s strengths. I enjoyed much of what David Tennant did. I feel exhausted at times by his intensity and energy, but he caught the stillness of the readings well, and grounded many lines that at times are let fly (ex: ‘you would seem to know my stops …” etc). As well, much of the humor missing from some of the productions mentioned was returned in this production, and the scenes with Polonius were brilliant (and some, too short). Kudos to all the actors, directors, and production staff. The rest of what I feel is ‘armchair directing,’ and some of my fave lines were cut, … and yes, it did feel at times rushed … (the once scene between Ophelia and Hamlet was a bit short-changed), but overall I feel very happy to have seen this, and look forward to watching it again. Cheers –
I agree with Alison and Jen. These comments are fascinating. Did we all see the same play? So much depends on the experiences and expectations we bring to the work. Alison, I think maybe you’re right about Kenneth Branagh, but go back and watch him again now that you’ve seen this. I did, and discovered that his relentlessly staccato delivery irritates me now. What a shame, because I don’t believe there’s only one correct Hamlet. But Tennant’s is so fresh and sad and funny and real it’s hard to like others as well as I used to. The gravedigger scene was amazing. I’ve always felt that every Hamlet I’ve seen was just reciting poetry, not expressing any actual feeling or thought about life and death, let alone about Yorick. I have been enthusiastically deconstructing how Tennant did it to anyone who’ll listen, which would take a essay-length posting here, but he had me at “Alas.” With the rest of the soliloquy he hit me like a body blow with how close Hamlet was, in that moment, to his own death. I may have noted that fact in Hamlets before, but never, ever, felt it.
As a Doctor Who/Tennant fan it was natural to want to see this. The range of acting to play Doctor Who is quite underrated by many. On seeing Hamlet, hopefully many will discover the talent of this man from across the pond. He has brought me to laughter, tears and even despair in his performances. His Hamlet has out done many actors that have gone before, giving you the feeling that the role was always his. I have read Hamlet and seen several versions but for the first time I believe I truly understood what was being said and more, what was being felt by this tortured character. David Tennant was Magnificent and my only hope is that the American audience will come to appreciate the brilliance of his interpretation of his craft so that we might see him more in this country.
Thanks for airing this, PBS! I’m a huge fan of both Patrick Stewart…Sir Patrick Stewart now, excuse me…and David Tennant, so I’m so happy to finally be able to see this! I was worried I’d never be able to, since I don’t have the kind of money to be able to fly to England from California to see this performed, and it’s no longer on stage, anyway, so I was pleased that it was playing twice last night, since I missed most of the first showing.
I saw David Tennant as the Doctor, once–may have seen him hosting Masterpiece Theater. But basically didn’t know him. But I have seen many versions of Hamlet onscreen and stage, and feel that this production brought out subtleties in the story and in the character that I hadn’t seen before. Was Hamlet mad? Only pretending to be mad? Or pretending to be mad yet seriously, darkly disturbed underneath all his pretence? Tennant kept me engaged and pondering the whole way through.
I’ve watched this twice now. Once on PBS, again on the website. I really did like this production. Very well done. Sir Patrick Stewart and David Tennant, so very well done. I was pleasantly entertained with Oliver Ford Davies’ Polonius.
Thank you BBC, Illuminations, and PBS for bringing this to life and sharing it. I only wish I could’ve seen these actors on live-stage performance.
I, too, have seen a great many different productions of Hamlet, but still feel that the one with Edwin Booth was the best. … only kidding.
I never saw David Tennant as Dr. Who, so he never reminded me of that character as he seems to have some other viewers. However, as soon as I saw David Tennant in action as Hamlet, especially once he “goes mad,” with his wild jumping around and gestures, and grotesque facial expressions, he definitely did remind me of someone. He seemed to be playing Hamlet as interpreted by Jim Carrey! I’m surprised that none of the reviews or comments I read mentioned this. Yet when I called my son, who is not a fan of Shakespeare, to the TV screen, and asked him who Tennant reminded him of, he immediately replied, “Jim Carrey.”
I don’t mean this observation as negative criticism. (I like Jim Carrey, who seems to play a madman all the time.) Tennant’s interpretation was fine, and seemed to make the meaning of the words clearer than when I heard them before, and his antic behavior was appropriate for someone half mad and feigning the rest of the way.
To me, Patrick Stewart was better as the ghost, than as Claudius, where, as some have observed, he seemed too low-key , quiet and reserved.
Just brilliant!
Words fail to describe this production. I work in theater as a tech, and have been a devotee of Hamlet for twenty-plus years, so I thought I’d seen it all. It was a privilege to witness this transcendent piece.
I must confess to not having see this – waiting for the DVD – but might I suggest to all of you who see David Tennant solely as ‘The Doctor’ search out the show “The Secret Smile”? You will never see him the same again, and might – just might- be able to see him as what he is: A truly brilliant and gifted Actor.
ROFL at the CONDOMS!!!
I know all these actors. Personally. Stewart, Tennant, Oliver Ford Davies, Judi Dench, etc. etc.
I lead a theatre tour to London and Stratford in July/August.
We’ve been waylaid by the economy tank but want to bring it back up in 2011.
We are the English Theatre Experience.dot com
Or kirkdanl@aol.com
And Tennant, Stewart, and Ford-Davies have spoken in our London
@Martha:
I would agree with you! He has such diversity in his acting…it gave me chills.
There were parts I could see The Doctor, but like someone mentioned earlier, every actor has certain characteristics they carry from one role to the next. It’s obvious everyone who watched the film had certain expectations of what they would view. Some were pleasantly surprised, some disappointed, while others were captivated by the story and its presentation. This, my friends, is the beauty of Shakespeare. It is open to interpretation. Not everyone will agree, but most will agree it is one of The Bard’s most intriguing works.
hey does anyone know where i may find a website to watch this i need to for english
I see people using plastic bags in the grocery store every weekend. It makes me angry sometimes. When will our local government ban these ugly plastic bags? Sometimes, I wanted to tell the people in line to just bring their own plastic bags or get a few of durable green supply bags. These bags last me a long time. I even don’t remember the last time I paid for the bags. Do yourself a favor, buy a few of these reusable bags and put them in your car. Even better, give it to the nice person in front of the line when you see he/she is asking for plastic bags.
Unfortunately, I do not have access to television since the switch to digital broadcasting. I miss everything that 13 stands for: intelligent, caring, well researched, and age approach programming. Like most viewers, I have my favourites. The one program I miss the most and would choose, if I was to watch only one hour per week, would be NATURE!!!!!!!!!!
Very nice and helpful information has been given in this topic. I like the way you explain the things. Keep working. Thanks. . .ugg greenfield size 10|ugg greenfield boot chestnut|ugg greenfield sale|ugg greenfield boots on sale
you’re in reality a excellent webmaster. The web site loading pace is incredible. It seems that you are doing any distinctive trick. Moreover, The contents are masterpiece. you have performed a excellent process in this matter!
Thanks for the tip Tony. I will make sure to try that on any other gadgets that have a size issue.