Oh, i got it in the end, but there were *kids* in the audience - like 8 or 10 years old or so. If *I* didnt know what the fuck was going on, i'm sure they didnt either. And the whole point is that it needs to be able to be understood, kwim?
In the show last night, it was Laertes who went OTT in grief, he got in the grave with her and was hugging her corpse FFS! At least Hamlet didnt climb in...
They also played down the Ophelia/Hamlet romance. We saw no signs of hugging or kissing or signs of any romance between them at all, in fact, the few scenes they shared together was him spurning her because he was 'mad' or her spurning him to set him up for Polonius and Claudius to see as they watched from behind a mirrored wall...
As for the Laertes-grief bit - forgot about that. The grief I meant was the bit when Hamlet's all "forty thousand brothers could not, with all their quantity of love, make up my sum” (V.i.254–256). Then he tries to one up Laertes, saying that he would do things for Ophelia that Laertes could not dream of: eat a crocodile for her, he would be buried alive with her... etc.
I think Shakespeare all depends on the director. Maybe this guy is of the opinion that people watching Shakespeare should know the play as well as he does? Not the best thought process, but one I have seen many a time.
Seriously - even the 'alas poor Yorick, i knew him WELL' line was changed. The 'well' was left off, and the name of the bloke Hamlet was there with was added in, instead - 'alas, poor Yorick, I knew him, whatsyourface...'
It was spoken as if to say, 'hey whatsyourface, i knew Yorick, didnt i?! and oh crap looky me, i'm holding his skull because the gravedigger is from Teh Norf and has an odd sense of humour...' it was spoken strangely and had an odd effect on the whole scene - going on about kissing Yorick's lips was weird too, not sure if that is in the original script, but ick.
The To Be or not to be bit was laborious and looked like David quoting Shakespeare, not someone actually speaking.
I will look out for it - hopefully it wont make me feel itchy and bored, kwim?
(Uh, that is the actual line. "Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy." The "well" is a common misconception.)
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In the show last night, it was Laertes who went OTT in grief, he got in the grave with her and was hugging her corpse FFS! At least Hamlet didnt climb in...
They also played down the Ophelia/Hamlet romance. We saw no signs of hugging or kissing or signs of any romance between them at all, in fact, the few scenes they shared together was him spurning her because he was 'mad' or her spurning him to set him up for Polonius and Claudius to see as they watched from behind a mirrored wall...
(no subject)
As for the Laertes-grief bit - forgot about that. The grief I meant was the bit when Hamlet's all "forty thousand brothers could not, with all their quantity of love, make up my sum” (V.i.254–256). Then he tries to one up Laertes, saying that he would do things for Ophelia that Laertes could not dream of: eat a crocodile for her, he would be buried alive with her... etc.
I think Shakespeare all depends on the director. Maybe this guy is of the opinion that people watching Shakespeare should know the play as well as he does? Not the best thought process, but one I have seen many a time.
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Still, thanks for helping me understand!
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I'm sorry. If you can, get hold of the Derek Jacobi BBC version. Bit more action, interesting scenery and it's still got Patrick Stewart!
(Plus - LALLA WARD AS OPHELIA!)
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It was spoken as if to say, 'hey whatsyourface, i knew Yorick, didnt i?! and oh crap looky me, i'm holding his skull because the gravedigger is from Teh Norf and has an odd sense of humour...' it was spoken strangely and had an odd effect on the whole scene - going on about kissing Yorick's lips was weird too, not sure if that is in the original script, but ick.
The To Be or not to be bit was laborious and looked like David quoting Shakespeare, not someone actually speaking.
I will look out for it - hopefully it wont make me feel itchy and bored, kwim?
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