14th Performance of Hamlet (my 4th)
We booked this performance through a RSC postal booking so that my friend's 10 years old daughter could see it. She's well behaved and has already seen a different production of Hamlet so knew what to expect. What we didn't tell her was that she would be sat right beside the stage right (the entrance) walkway which is where Hamlet and Horatio crouch down to watch Ophelia's funeral!
It rained most of the drive up there but I stopped at my usual place but today instead for a late breakfast! Unfortunately I'd forgotten my umbrella and I parked in the Swan Nest car park the other side of the river so I was soaked by the time that I arrived at the theatre! I knew I'd be dry by the end of the play though.
I'm glad I saw the first matinee of the run as they audience definitely laughed in different places to where an evening audience laugh which made an interesting perspective.
I really listened today and the part they've cut from the To be or not to be speech is from "The Oppressors wrong" part so DT says "For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, But that the dread of something after death" and they omit the lines:
The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,
The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,
The insolence of office and the spurns
That patient merit of the unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin? who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life.
We booked this performance through a RSC postal booking so that my friend's 10 years old daughter could see it. She's well behaved and has already seen a different production of Hamlet so knew what to expect. What we didn't tell her was that she would be sat right beside the stage right (the entrance) walkway which is where Hamlet and Horatio crouch down to watch Ophelia's funeral!
It rained most of the drive up there but I stopped at my usual place but today instead for a late breakfast! Unfortunately I'd forgotten my umbrella and I parked in the Swan Nest car park the other side of the river so I was soaked by the time that I arrived at the theatre! I knew I'd be dry by the end of the play though.
I'm glad I saw the first matinee of the run as they audience definitely laughed in different places to where an evening audience laugh which made an interesting perspective.
I really listened today and the part they've cut from the To be or not to be speech is from "The Oppressors wrong" part so DT says "For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, But that the dread of something after death" and they omit the lines:
The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,
The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,
The insolence of office and the spurns
That patient merit of the unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin? who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life.
One part I noticed the other day was that Hamlet says Wormwood, Wormwood a coupe of times during the play within the play so I looked that up and apparently it was a bitter plant at that time so fits in well.
It took DT 2 attempts to get the recorder in his pocket tonight!
My friend's daughter's face was a picture when she realised that David Tennant was kneeling just in front of her!
I'm going to Denmark myself next weekend so the comments in the play about the country made me laugh today!
Afterwards we went to the stage door (as my friend's daughter wanted to get DT's autograph). There was quite a crowd there but they were well behaved and there were barriers up so it was quite civilised. I stood back on a small wall just to watch while the other two tried to get near the front. Unfortunately David Tennant didn't come out but she managed to get autographs from Patrick Stewart's and Oliver Ford Davies (who plays Polonius).
It made a nice change to be able to drive home in the daylight after seeing Hamlet!
Next performance for me: Saturday 23rd August!!!
Next performance for me: Saturday 23rd August!!!
