Customer Review

Kevin Kline's Hamlet is a surprisingly good production of the play. Shakespeare is an oral dramatist, much of whose power relies upon the vocal modulation of the lines. This is not easy for an American cast as their accent, flat and spoken from the top of the mouth, makes the expression of subtle emotions difficult. Too often high emotion is expressed not by modulation but by screeching the lines. Because the camera work is close, Kline and the other actors overcome this with sheer and effective intensity of expression. Cuts have been made, none serious and certainly not the butchery perpetrated by Laurence Olivier. Neither do we have the 'prequel' and over-acting of Mel Gibson's version.

So, if you want a faithful rendering of the play by competent actors who know their characters and can portray them as real people rather than stereotypes, I can recommend this production. Ophelia's 'mad scene' is particularly good, Polonius is reliably creepy and Claudius is believably competent. Hamlet's ambition is made clear, the bedroom scene with Gertrude is intense and Horatio is an excellent contrast to Hamlet. The settings are simple and do not distract from the action. I have nothing but praise for the version.