The Barbican released some new photos of Benedict Cumberbatch-as-Hamlet ahead of this evening’s official opening. Are you exhausted? I’m exhausted on his behalf. The previews for Hamlet were probably the most-discussed previews in a decade. At least something major changed in the previews though – the artsy-fartsy director is no longer using Hamlet’s “to be or not to be” speech at the very beginning of the play. That was one of the biggest complaints in previews, so I’m glad they changed it.
As for these new production photos – they’re not glamour shots, obviously. Bendy doesn’t look very good here and his hair is really struggling. I was never obsessed with his Sherlock-curls, although I was a fan of his hair when he kept it close to his natural AUBURN and had it sort of shaggy. Which is sort of what it is now, although everything seems “off” nowadays.
Anyway, the reviews for Hamlet are all over the place. Some say it’s a decent production, some say it’s not all that. This production is sort of critic-proof though because it was always going to be a limited engagement and it was always going to sell out because of Benedict’s crazy’s fans.
You can see more photos from the production here.
'I doubt I'll bother to see Cumberbatch in Hamlet – I don't want it marred by screaming fans' http://t.co/S1nn4m5ixV pic.twitter.com/vRJDglhNIB
— The Independent (@Independent) August 21, 2015
Photos courtesy of the Barbican Theatre, WENN.
At this stage I feel like the previews for this started the day after Shakespeare finished writing it.
Hahahaha +1
This one annoys me. I saw Ralph Fiennes as Hamlet way back when and he was thrilling.
Well, good for him for giving himself an acting stretch, if that’s what he’s done here.
How’s that a stretch? He is again the smart(ass) well-off posh dude. Like in real life and most of his roles. And I mean that in a loving way. I like him, but range isn’t really his thing.
It’s Shakespeare. In a theatre. That’s always a good stretch and flex of the acting chops.
Bertie Carvel has range.. just you wait..HE WILL BE HUGE
Bertie Carvel is AMAZING. I’m debating whether or not to see Bakkhai again (even though I kind of hated the chorus). And counting down the days to Hairy Ape.
I used to work with his girlfriend’s brother and they’ve come in to my work a few times, but I always missed them.
I saw it again just because he and Whishaw are fantastic.
Nothing should be critic-proof – at least, from real critics. The nutjobs for whom Bendy is the reason they get out of bed in the morning are a different matter. In a way, it’s a bit sad for Cumberbatch-the-actor if the biggest theatrical role of his career is critic-proof because of Bendy-the-Tumblr-Boyfriend.
Theatre critics won’t care – they are some of the harshest ones out there. If its shit they will say so but in true British style – with a lot of veiled barbed snide.
He’ll do well with the role – he’s always struck me as being one of those actors who are more comfortable on stage rather than screen.
Why does it seem that Hamlet Pushing 40, the Hamlet to end all Hamlets, has been running FOREVER?
Hahaha – i LOVE this description, you should write a review on it in this tone.
I’ll be seeing the NTLive broadcast in October but thousands will have weighed in by then. I’ve seen a number of Hamlet productions, including Mark Rylance’s when I was a kid, and Ben Whishaw’s version, and several filmed versions. I’m kind of tired of it. My review might be overly sarcastic even if it is good
I’m going to get a ticket to my local NTLive showing. And i saw Ben Wishaw as well – he was very good. Not sure how i feel about Bendy in the role – not everyone can pull off shakespeare and he can’t carry a movie so not sure about a play. With Frankenstein he played very well of Johnny Lee Miller.
i loved bouncing Benny
Because he’s been pulsating into it in a (BIG) prat like fashion for ages Lilac i.e. a BIG pulsating prat (can I have a chocolate?)
A whole lovely box of truffles heading your way
Thank you 🙂
Couldn’t really care less one way or the other about this production or what the critics have to say about it… I just came here to say that one of the pictures included here, where he’s wearing an open, blue jacket and walking past throngs of fans, has to be the ONLY picture I have ever seen of hm where he looks – IMHO – remotely hittable. Something about the angle of the photograph negates his normally overly-feline physiognomy. That’s all.
The Cumber-bat-sh*t-crazy-bitches ruining things. Jeez, what’s wrong with criticism of your boyfriends performance in his job? Like I wanna side eye the guy for lecturing the people that came to see, but at the same time he had to. Those tumblr fans are nuts.
Will we get pap/fan photos of Hiddles attending the play? See what I did there, put Hiddles in a Bendy post.
He ehehehe…
You’d best run and hide, now. There’s a lovely gazebo over on our Dragonfly Lord’s postings–ware the sagging ceiling, though. Other than that, it’s just great!
The gazebo’s ceiling sags no more. It collapsed completely last week due to the meadow crowd’s attempt to capture it. That entire area is off limits for safety reasons. Browniecakes is welcome on the veranda.
That poor gazebo just can’t seem to catch a break. If I didn’t know better I’d say someone is sabotaging it in a futile attempt to thwart the meadow crowd from gathering. Never fear though, we are nothing if not resilient. The new plan is to come together during the next full moon and use the ruins to start a bonfire of epic proportions. Our antics will make High-Rise look like a bible-study class.
Dara–I am in AWE of your organization skills, if you can get the meadow crowd to work sufficiently in harmony to achieve that goal. Then again, fire.
Lilacflowers–Ahem, you may wish to speak to Mark re buffing up security come the next full moon! (Plus reinforcing the veranda ‘railing’, as well.) 😀
The DM has an article on the press night – Sophie turned up wearing an orange dress with that smug smile she has. That colour isn’t her – she suits reds better. And those shoes FUG but that might be the dress.
Oh hello Dan Stevens, why haven’t i noticed you before. And i really don’t want to be rude but is his wife pregnant? Looks like she is.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3210575/Sophie-Hunter-dazzles-chic-orange-dress-leads-celeb-arrivals-press-night-husband-Benedict-Cumberbatch-s-Hamlet.html
Seen 3-5 star reviews, 1-2 star—the Guardian, which says BC and cast are amazing but Turner’s direction/concept is too out there.
Adding there were actual reviews. Some critics are also releasing reviews they wrote about the preview, back on opening night–don’t ask me why, that’s pointless now.
yep. metro, deadline, what’s on stage, telegraph, londonist, bbc all raving. dunno about independent or fail. HR was positive but from previews. sounds like it’s your thing if you like a different type of take. everything negative im seeing is about the director tbh
i noticed that too, like they got disclaimers ‘I saw this on august 11’ or whatever but its weird and a little misleading to publish preview reviews now when it’s actually on and stuffs changed
Raving? Not really, They are very meh, most of them.
4-star is raving, yeah. for an experimental approach, the reviews aren’t as bad as i thought tbh critics are old lol
It’s not experimental, more of a jumble tbh. The critics totally have a point, old or not. I have seen it twice and it doesn’t come close to Ben Whishaw’s or Tennant’s Hamlet. It is oddly underpowered, not as moving as you would expect.
I’m a fan, but I try to be objective 🙂
I just cant with this man. I truly do not see his appeal, am i missing something? He just comes off looking very alien/lizard-y to me :/
The critics have praised BC, but slated the director and in some measure the rest of the cast. Having seen the play twice, I agree with most of them. The real star of the show is Es Devlin, not Shakespeare.
I think it may be why in last night’s photo BC looks like he has lost all his mirth. Sorry couldn’t help myself 🙂
The Guardian’s critic seems to have an issue with this being a Hamlet aimed at the masses.
This kind of attitude just irritates me. Why do they think the theater should be NOT aimed at the masses? Theater is entertainment at its core, it started this way. Now everyone expects the theater to be some kind of a bastion for hardcore culture connoisseurs, and only that.
The critic himself has probably seen 20 Hamlets, but most people seeing Hamlet for the first or second time are not necessarily looking for the depth and subtle touches. They want something watchable.
I think the director cannot win. One way or another someone is going to be unhappy – either critics or the audiences.
i think i saw a critic who sad it was Hamlet made easy for fans or something like that
I think you should see it first then object. Michael Billington is spot on and if you are honest and not a rabid BC fan, you’ll probably end up by agreeing with him.
For example, the supporting cast is rather weak and that’s a fact. They are competent actors usually, but don’t gel well in this particular production.
And the set is magnificent but too huge, so performances are dwarfed by it. The first time we went my friend had a good seat in the stalls and couldn’t hear part of the dialogue (she wasn’t the only one by the comments I heard during the interval). You’d think they would address the issue before opening. Apparently not.
No point anyway in defending or criticising something you have not seen.
And by the way, it’s not particularly accessible either. If you don’t know the play, it’s not that easy to make real sense of what’s happening.
>I think you should see it first then object. Michael Billington is spot on and if you are honest and not a rabid BC fan, you’ll probably end up by agreeing with him.
I didn’t comment on any of that as I haven’t seen the production, just about the Hamlet-made-easy part which the critic took an issue with.
And isn’t it obvious I am not a “rabid fan” as you’ve put it since I didn’t travel to London to see the production, and never even considered that. I would not even drive to another city.
I will watch it on NTLive 3 miles from my house when it comes out and be able to comment on the other points.
EN Thank you for this . Because , let’s face it , I really think that Shakespeare wanted his work aimed at the masses . Sort of .