Reader Reviews
Hamlet (West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | I would like to give it four plus; that is, not quite five. I became fully engaged in the story as a story, in the psychology as psychology and the performances as reality. Apart from Hamlet accellarating a few times the speeches were constrained to normal speaking speed and I was able to savour the language, hear (almost) all the words and keep a firm track of (most of) the nuances. Hamlet did gabble in traditional Shakespearean style sometimes and then remembered himself. We enjoyed some of the tricks like Ophelia paddling, but especially the chalking. The analysis of "To be or not to be" in six simple monosyllabic words was close to genius - suddenly even I understood. - Mike | 04 May 11 |
| I really enjoyed this show. In fact I am going back to see it again. I am not a Shakespeare buff and perhaps that helps. Loved Christopher Eccleston, he is a wonderful actor and I thought his Hamlet was spellbinding! Julie Maude - USER: Whatsonstage.com (212.103.241.146) | 13 Nov 02 |
| Having attended Hamlet with a group who, without exception, thought the production stopped just short of embarrassing, I am surprised by the favourable comment it has gleaned - and, to be fair, by the extremely enthusiastic audience response. There were good things, but generally they were comparatively minor, like a very successful doubling of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and the Gravediggers. Christopher Ecclestone's gauchely camp body language prevented any sympathy with Hamlet and most of the other actors failed (or did not attempt) to make anything three-dimensionally human of their characters. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.252.224.7) | 10 Nov 02 |
| At last - a WYP Artistic Director who can cope with Shakespeare, something Jude Kelly could never do! This theatre has served up a fair number of turkeys over the past few years so it's a pleasure to see Ian Brown's debut production. This is one of the most involving Hamlets I've ever seen; Eccleston's successful film career has deprived us of a sensational stage actor, and I for one would love to see him in other Shakespearean roles. The whole cast in in fine form but Malcolm Scates is an outstanding Claudius. Let's have more productions of this calibre, Mr Brown! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.92.168.168) | 10 Nov 02 |
