Morning:
11°c
London faces a wave of bus and Tube strikes that could cause chaos for millions of passengers as unions walkout over pay and conditions
More...
An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
The show has suddenly become quite wonderful, and the galvanising factor is the terrific stage debut of Melanie C
Blood Brothers
Music
The British pop music industry may be eating itself but if Muse are the pick of what it can offer the world in 2010 then British music is in rude health indeed
Muse
I was smitten by both Gilberts enormous luxuriant moustache and the intelligence and nuance of this highly entertaining play
I totally recommend Babbo to anyone who is looking for really good and traditional Italian food
Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
Henry Hitchings's rating
Reader rating
Dir: MIchael Grandage.
Cast: Jude Law, Ron Cook, Peter Eyre, Gwilym Lee, John MacMillan, Kevin R McNally, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Matt Ryan, Alex Waldmann, Penelope Wilton
Description: Shakespeare's tragedy about a young man haunted by his father's ghost. In an attempt to avenge his father's death, the young Hamlet is driven to the brink of madness. Starring Jude Law.
Trains: Tube: Leicester Square 
Phone: 0870950 0925
Website: www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk
The talented Mr Law: Jude Law delivering the “To be or not to be” speech while being showered in snow during a strong, detailed and powerful performance as Hamlet in Michael Grandage’s production
Michael Grandage's lucid Hamlet completes the Donmar Warehouse’s quartet of productions at Wyndham’s Theatre, and, commercially at least, it is the most enticing chapter of the year-long residency, thanks to the presence of Jude Law, appearing on stage for the first time since playing Dr Faustus at the Young Vic seven years ago.
The knives (or indeed bodkins) were out for Law from the moment it was announced that he was taking on the title role. Now they can be sheathed. For as the scholar-soldier-prince Law’s performance is detailed and powerful.
Law in fact starts rather fussily, his effort to point the meaning of every line causing a loss of fluidity. Yet he grows as the action unfolds — by the interval we are convinced, and in the second half his confidence burgeons.
He brings a rumpled charisma to the role: his Hamlet is both disgusted and dangerous. The soliloquies, though they offer larger reflections on the human condition, seem in Law’s hands vividly personal, and in the interpretation he and Grandage have worked on we see this is a drama as much about remembering as about revenge.
Law’s is not a funny Hamlet, but he possesses both self-lacerating candour and romantic dash. Among the supporting roles — this is a play, of course, in which the lead speaks roughly 40 per cent of the lines — Ron Cook’s Polonius, a mass of ceremonious expostulations, stands out.
Other roles have been less effectively cast. Alex Waldmann’s Laertes resembles a bushy-tailed first-year undergraduate, and as Ophelia Gugu Mbatha-Raw, eschewing the histrionics sometimes associated with the part, heads too far in the opposite direction — towards a chilly restraint.
When madness finally seizes her, its sexual dimension (which caused the 17th century critic Jeremy Collier to pronounce the character “lewd” and “unreasonable”) is undersold. The text has been pared down to ensure that the action moves along at a brisk pace — perhaps too brisk — and the political setting has been left somewhat vague.
Except during the “play within the play”, the whole cast is garbed in unappealing blacks and greys. Kevin McNally’s Claudius resembles a cross between gangster and bureaucrat, while Penelope Wilton, hardly an obvious choice to play Gertrude, has been made to look desperately dowdy. Still, McNally’s performance is nuanced, and Wilton shows fine control.
Christopher Oram’s set, a combination of stone towers and wooden gates, is ominous, and Neil Austin’s lighting arrows through its embrasures, suggesting Elsinore is almost a locked ward, claustrophobic and institutional. Grandage’s direction is mostly taut, though with the odd baroque flourish. The closet scene in which Hamlet stabs Polonius is handled with originality (we, like Polonius, become eavesdroppers).
Just as arresting, though less readily explicable, is the decision to have Law deliver “To be or not to be” while being showered with snow.
Such quirks will divide opinion, but the strength of Law’s performance is impossible to deny.
Until 22 August. Information 0844 482 5138
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Jude Law was very good, charismatic and convincing. The sets are boring and drab and not creating the right atmosphere. The rest of the cast are not amazing and bring the production to a mediocre level except for the actor who played Horatio - he was on par with Jude Law.
- Loppie, oxford
This was my first Hamlet, and I've got mixed feelings about it. I thought Jude Law was amazing - a powerful, convincing performance - and he completely stole the show. But with the exception of the snow scene, the sets were drab and boring, as were the costumes. In one scene Penelope Wilton looked like she was about to do some decorating instead of being the Queen of Denmark. And I don't know if she was having an off-night, but she was completely unconvincing as either a mother or a queen.
- Lynn Stephenson, London, England
I watched Mr. Law's first preview performance and was quite amazed. His Hamlet is no navel-gazing self-absorbed brat but a physical *live* thing. The man moves like a dancer. His verse-speaking is impeccable. The whole performance has a compelling immediacy to it. Unfortunately the supporting cast were not on par with Mr. Law, especially Ophelia, Guildenstern and Rosencrantz. I think Horatio was fine though.
- Visitor, Nepean, Canada
I watched Mr.Law on the nýght of his third performance.He was brilliant.Hamlet walked away from his classical appearance -that we all are very well acquianted with- and turned into a flesh and blood character..
He is compassionate ,sad,emotional ,thoughtful,elegant and energetic.So different from the Hamlet taken over with 'hesitation'.
Staging is timelss,extremely smart and surprising .
I think this new approach will pave the way for more contemporary and creative interpretations making the young generations to understand Shakespeare better and love his works thus making him live another 400 years ahead.
- Belia, ankara turkey
We had the cheapest seats, which weren't even seats, standing for the entire three hours high up in the balconey where it's extremely hard to make out the actors' faces. Yet even from our 'Mt Olympus', Jude Law's performance was amazing and extremely engaging - and after all these years of thinking Hamlet as being a depressed pansy, he finally made me see how enjoyable the character really is.
- Gazal, London, UK
Michael Grandage has directed a production that is lucid and terrifically paced with a minutely detailed, energised and powerful performance from Jude Law as Hamlet. Unfortunately, aside from Ron Cook as Polonius and Penelope Wilton as Gertrude, the production is woefully miscast...irritatingly so. Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Ophelia trips around the stage like some pre-pubescent schoolgirl in search of hidden lollipops. After the death of her father she conveys grief with wide-eyed stareing and pitch perfect singing; you want to drown her their and then for insulting the audience with her display of dishonest emotion. As her brother Laertes, Alex Waldmann is equally dreadful. Did they come as a job lot? He looks and sounds like Head Girl at Bedales, conveys rage and distress with mincing hands on hips and has as much athleticism as a turnip floating to the top of a boiling stew. On his return to Elsinore to avenge his father's death he points his dagger at Claudius' neck as if he were pointing to an unfortunate zit that has just made an appearance. Law deserves better than this to play against, and in the final duel I genuinely felt for him having to cross swords with a halibut out of water. Special mention must go to Peter Eyre as the Ghost of Hamlet's father. He is an actor I have always liked. Last night he plodded on and off the stage as though he were late getting to Sainsbury's. What a shame! Nonetheless Jude, I salute you.
- A Gregory, London
I thought Jude Law made a wonderful Hamlet. I would freely admit I was surprised by just how good he was in the role, passionate, convincing, connected with the audience, I thought his performance completely overshadowed the rest of the cast. Well done. I thoroughly enjoyed the play and stood and applauded at the end. Frankly, I would completely agree with some other reviews and thought that some of the other performances were a little less convincing, but Jude Law was that good it did not detract from a truly memorable experience.
- Daryl, Stratford upon Avon, England
Saw preview performance on Monday. Am afraid Jude's performance rather one-dimensional, Gertrude certainly not the credible focus of Hamlets poisonous fury at 'an o'er hasty marriage', Laertes well out of the reach of Alex Waldmann. Kevin McNally the best of the bunch as Claudius. Whole thing galloped through like they all had a more pressing appointment elsewhere. Not worth the fuss.
Would give it 2 stars. Dreadfully disappointing.
- Original Ww, London, UK
Why does the fact that he delivers "To be or not to be" in the snow need to be explained? Strange that a few feel the need to mention it. It is a stunning moment and he delivers the speech beautifully. It is a wonderfully intelligent performance that held the audience from start to finish. Michael Grandage has produced something very special.
- Lady B, London, UK
I take issue with you regarding Ron Cook! A very poor stab at the part of Polonius indeed. But not as poor as the actor who played Claudius. We thought he looked and acted like Terry Scott.
The young girl as Ophelia was alright.Gertrude very good. Laertes and both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern seemd like promising 6th formers way out of their depth. All the crowd scenes were bland.With groups of pretty boys or bald young men standing around adding very little.
However, Jude Law for my money was stunning as Hamlet. The Donmar normally has very good casting across the board, but sadly not in this one.Even more of a shame. As it's the last show of what has been very good season at the Wyndhams.
- Sam, Guilford, England
Mr Hitchings...Thank you for not falling into the obvious David Tennant comparison trap!
- Gwaddilove, london ENGLAND
