Great Expectations

Great expectations...those are what I have for the current production of Shakespeare's Hamlet at The Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

David Tennant takes the title role with Patrick Stewart doubling as both Claudius and Old Hamlet's Ghost. I like that idea and I hope it works on stage. Having seen two of the last three productions of Hamlet at the RST, if this production is going to exceed the brilliance of those it will have to be phenomenal.

In the two previous productions I saw, Sam West played the first Hamlet and Toby Stephens the second. I fell head over heels in love with the play and character when I watched Sam West so I was a little worried about watching the play again for fear the next Hamlet might not be as good. I was certainly mistaken. Artistic Director, Michael Boyd, of the RSC had chosen Toby Stephens for the role and he lived upto the standard of West's performance. That 2004 production I watched four times in all. Clive Wood, Sian Thomas and Meg Fraser were outstanding as Claudius, Gertrude and Ophelia. So, Tennant and Stewart have a lot to live up to, as do the rest of the cast. But, with one of the current top directors in charge of the play, Gregory Doran, I'm pretty sure that Hamlet is in safe hands.

One thing upset me a little after I had heard of someone having seen the current production: the number of girls standing up screaming and cheering at the end as David Tennant came back on stage. I understand that some people are going to see it purely because they're Doctor Who or Star Trek fans, or because they adore David Tennant. But, why should those of us who are there to watch two fantastic actors act in Shakespeare's great play directed by a superb director suffer a rather disturbing end? Why don't we all just show respect for Shakespeare's play?!

So, why am I going? What other answer can I give other than that, I love Shakespeare. And Hamlet is my favourite play in the whole wide world!