Hamlet
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Cititour.com Review
Who would have thought that Jude Law could make Shakespeare's language sound as if it were his everyday vocabulary? Cast against type, the big-screen hottie turns in a top-drawer performance as the melancholy prince. If only he were better supported by his fellow players, the play, not just Law's performance, would be something to talk about.
Law commands the Broadway stage with as much dexterity and charisma as he does the screen. Under the direction of Michael Grandage, best known on this side of the Atlantic for staging Frost/Nixon, he stretches Hamlet beyond the typical woebegone boundaries we're used to seeing. Law pounces upon Shakespeare's humor without cheapening the impact of the tragedy. His Hamlet is a fiery, defiant youth, consumed not simply by the pain of his father's death but also by a burning desire to do what's right — if only he could figure out what that is.
Unlike some other Hamlets, who gradually descend into madness, Law takes a swift turn to the dark side early, when he encounters the ghost of Hamlet's father. Consumed more by rage than by sadness, he breathes fire, not only at the uncle the ghost claims killed him but also at the questionable legitimacy of the ghost itself.
Darkness dominates production designer Christopher Oram's dismal Elsinore, equal parts dungeon and castle, with high walls and few windows. The illumination from lighting designer Neil Austin often beams down from above, as if God were keeping a close eye on the proceedings.
Someone might have kept a closer watch on the performances. While Ron Cook's Polonius and Kevin R. McNally's Claudius are capable counterparts for Law's Hamlet, other performers in this London import aren't up to the challenge, notably Gwilym Lee (Laertes) and Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Ophelia). It certainly appears as if Law were being guided by some divine and feverish inspiration, especially when he delivers his soaring soliloquies. If only his condition were contagious.
By Diane Snyder
Visit the Site
http://www.hamletbroadway.com
Cast
Jude Law, Ross Armstrong, Harry Attwell, Ron Cook, Ian Drysdale, Peter Eyre, Jenny Funnell, Michael Hadley, Colin Haigh, Sean Jackson, Geraldine James, Gwilym Lee, James Le Feuvre, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, John MacMillan, Kevin R. McNally, Henry Pettigrew, Matt Ryan, Alan Turkington, Faye Winter
Open/Close Dates
Opening 9/12/2009
Closing 12/6/2009
Box Office
212-239-6200
Theatre Info
Broadhurst Theatre
235 West 44th Street
New York, NY 10036
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