11th Performance of Hamlet (my 3rd)
Photo of DT at the stage door by Recaf (on another night)
I really found it hard to settle at work this morning as I was surprisingly nervous for this Press Night performance! I've enjoyed this production so much and I really want it to get good reviews. I am concerned though that, as it emphasises the humour in the play, that the critics won't like it.
Photo of DT at the stage door by Recaf (on another night)
I really found it hard to settle at work this morning as I was surprisingly nervous for this Press Night performance! I've enjoyed this production so much and I really want it to get good reviews. I am concerned though that, as it emphasises the humour in the play, that the critics won't like it.
Thankfully the journey up was quite uneventful and I had time to stop at my usual place for some dinner. I had booked this ticket as a postal application with the RSC when they first went on sale so I had a brilliant seat! It was in the second row right next to the stage left (the exit) walkway (B16). It also meant that David Tennant stood right beside me for several minutes during the reception (second scene) and again when he's talking to Ophelia. He has the most amazing toes!
I was sitting next to (both literally and physically) a little old lady who told me that she had seen Hamlet about 100 times (various productions) over the years and her first one was when she was sixteen which was 70 years ago! She said that she had even seen Lawrence Olivier in the role! Of course I had to ask her afterwards what she thought about this production and she said that she had really enjoyed it and thought it was one of the best that she had seen!
There seemed to be a lot of nervous energy on stage tonight (that's just my subjective opinion!) but it was a great performance! Tonight the gun firing and mirror shattering sound all worked perfectly in time (and the correct order!).
The fight scene is still spectacular each time I watch but I think I've managed to work out how they "cut" Hamlet. As soon as he's cut Horatio goes up to him and I'm pretty sure that's when he's palmed the blood vial as it's after that that DT grabs his neck and that's when the blood is there. (We worked out during the first performance how he "cuts" his hand after he's seen the ghost as he puts both hands in the pockets of his coat, supposedly to search for his knife but in his left hand he must pull out a blood vial.) Now I have to work out how Laertes is "cut".
Another thing I've noticed that's changed from the first night is that when Laertes is told that Ophelia has drowned, he no longer falls to the ground.
Due to the angle that I was sitting at tonight, I could see David Tennant's face really clearly during the "count...try matters" line and he looks really mischievous at that part!
Due to the angle that I was sitting at tonight, I could see David Tennant's face really clearly during the "count...try matters" line and he looks really mischievous at that part!
I did realise tonight that David Ajala (who plays the servant Reynaldo) also plays the guy who descends from the ceiling during the dumb show). It's amazing what a difference just ruffling up his hair a lot makes!
You could tell from the looks between the actors in the bows tonight that they thought they'd given a great performance so that was good to see.
I didn't do the stage door thing again (I really don't understand all the autograph thing but that may be because a semi-famous friend of mine often gets asked for his autograph when I'm with him and I don't understand that either plus it can be invasive at times) but instead I went straight back to my car and got home at 1.30am.
I couldn't resist going online to look at the reviews and, except the Daily Mail, my fears were totally unfounded as they received really good reviews!
Next performance for me: Saturday 9th (first matinee!)
Next performance for me: Saturday 9th (first matinee!)
