16 replies to this topic

[Alexandra]

This could be a tremendous season for them.  Here's the press release.


[post="http://www.oldvictheatre.com/pdf/pressrelease_season07-08"]Old Vic season[/post]

(link doesn't work. It's at www.oldvictheatre.com - click on Season 2007/2008 announced).

All About My Mother, then Stephen Fry's Cinderella (press release is promising about this), then Mamet's Speed-the-Plow with Spacey, and then, best of all, Hamlet and The Tempest with Stephen Dillane, directed by Sam Mendes. I'm really looking forward to seeing Dillane's Prospero. Who saw his Hamlet first time round? - I didn't, but I've heard great things about it from friends.

[josh]

This could be a tremendous season for them.  Here's the press release.


[post="http://www.oldvictheatre.com/pdf/pressrelease_season07-08"]Old Vic season[/post]

(link doesn't work. It's at www.oldvictheatre.com - click on Season 2007/2008 announced).

All About My Mother, then Stephen Fry's Cinderella (press release is promising about this), then Mamet's Speed-the-Plow with Spacey, and then, best of all, Hamlet and The Tempest with Stephen Dillane, directed by Sam Mendes. I'm really looking forward to seeing Dillane's Prospero. Who saw his Hamlet first time round? - I didn't, but I've heard great things about it from friends.

Very exciting...I actually want to see all them, which makes a difference from the last 2 seasons when I didn't want to see anything at all at the Old Vic! Especially excited about the Almodovar adaptation and Stephen Fry's panto.

I may get flayed for saying this, but I hate old Hamlets and I wish he was playing Claudius instead and letting the next Ben Whishaw/Ed Stoppard play Hamlet. Old ones never get to me like the young ones do.

[Alexandra]

Oh, Branagh and Russell Beale and Sam West and Adrian Lester all got to me in varying degrees. They weren't as old as Dillane will be, it's true, but he looks younger than he is!

[Biddy]

This LINK works for me.

[josh]

Oh, Branagh and Russell Beale and Sam West and Adrian Lester all got to me in varying degrees. They weren't as old as Dillane will be, it's true, but he looks younger than he is!

Sam West was only a few years over 30 when he did it and I think still today comes across as pretty youthful. I haven't seen the others - except Branagh on film - so can't comment, but I wish I had seen Simon Russell Beale in the role! I'm sure I would agree with you then.

Dillane will be 52! Has any actor before ever played Hamlet and Prospero at the same time?

[Alexandra]

You inspired me to check! -  Dillane will be 51.  It seems to be the year of older actors - like Simon Russell Beale and Zoe Wanamaker doing Much Ado. Doing Prospero at the same time will certainly test Dillane's versatility; it's his Prospero I really want to see.

[Lynette]

Simon Russell Beale was unbeatable for his clarity in getting over meaning and don't you just love his eyes, the way they turn expressions in an instant? But I have to admit, his rotundity , though always well dressed , didn't convey the vulnerability of Hamlet so well as Paul Rhys or even that young whippersnapper Whishart.

[armadillo]

Gielgud did both his first Hamlet and Prospero in 1930 - also at the Old Vic. Remember, you read this here first though I'm sure it will be mentioned in every single article about the coming season!

[Boob]

I was looking forward to All About My Mother when David Leveaux was at the helm, but if Tom Cairns is directing, I think I might give this one a miss.

[curzon]

Sam West was only a few years over 30 when he did it and I think still today comes across as pretty youthful. I haven't seen the others - except Branagh on film - so can't comment, but I wish I had seen Simon Russell Beale in the role! I'm sure I would agree with you then.

Dillane will be 52! Has any actor before ever played Hamlet and Prospero at the same time?

52? (or 51!) Bloody hell!! That makes me feel old! Stephen was at the BOVTS at the same time as me. Admittedly he is 8 years older than me...but still..

Sebastian