By now you know that I will literally write about anything having to do with Benedict Cumberbatch, regardless of how small or unimportant the story is. While it might seem like I’m doing that here… this is something I actually care about. Benedict has the face, voice and talent to play the great Shakespearean characters. Personally, I think Benedict should play Iago in Othello. He is absolutely perfect for it. But Benedict is an actor and all actors really want a go at Hamlet, for some reason. There were many rumors last year that Benedict was trying to get a London production of Hamlet off the ground, hopefully for this year. But it’s looking like that won’t happen… at least not this year.
Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch has firmly committed to playing Shakespeare’s ‘sweet prince’ now that a home has been found for his Hamlet. I can reveal that the play about the troubled Dane will begin performances in August next year at London’s Barbican Theatre.
It had been hoped that Cumberbatch’s Hamlet would run this year, but we’ll have to wait — mainly because of a paucity of appropriate venues, but also thanks to the packed schedules of Cumberbatch and Hamlet’s director Lyndsey Turner. The show will be the centrepiece of the Barbican’s 2015 season.
When approached on the matter, Hamlet producer Sonia Friedman said: ‘I can confirm that we are in final negotiations with the Barbican,’ but she declined to comment further.
However, others associated with the production told me Cumberbatch was better able to clear a big chunk of time in 2015 — he has agreed to commit to a 12-week run in the Barbican, and at least six weeks of preparation and rehearsal time.
Cumberbatch will also meet periodically with director Turner to work out how to approach the Bard’s landmark drama, which is seen as a test of an actor’s stage ability. The 1,166-seat Barbican Theatre is big enough to house Cumberbatch’s growing fan-base, which has exploded since the success of Sherlock on BBC TV and the star’s appearances in blockbuster movies such as Star Trek: Into Darkness, August: Osage County and the Oscar-winning 12 Years A Slave.
He last appeared on stage at the National Theatre in Frankenstein, directed by Danny Boyle. Cumberbatch has a major movie coming out in the Autumn called The Imitation Game, which is expected to figure in the next awards season. He portrays the World War II code-breaking mastermind Alan Turing, while Keira Knightley portrays one of his Bletchley Park colleagues.
Broadway.com confirms the news. Cumberbitches will get to see Hambatch next year for 12 weeks. Benedict turns 39 years old in July 2015… is that too old to play Hamlet? I think it is. When I think of the Danish prince, I do think of him as a young man, early to mid-20s. And you can tell from his wishy-washy actions too – he just ponces around, whining and complaining for four acts (Hamlet is such a hipster) before everything goes crazy in Act V. But… I will give Benedict some credit. He’s always been able to “play younger.” Maybe it will work. And given his sex-wrapped-in-honey-dipped-in-Scotch voice, it will be nice to hear him perform all of those wordy monologues. Unf. Still, I would rather see him as Iago.
Photos courtesy of Getty, Fame/Flynet.
You aren’t as caste by age in theatre as in film so he’s fine playing Hamlet. I need to somehow start saving some money. I would LOVE to see this.
+1. Seeing how on film the role has been played by Mel Gibson and Kenneth Branagh, his age is fine.
And Jude Law played Hamlet too and recently, which brings this question to mind: Hamlet? Again?
Well that’s the thing about Shakespeare and plays, the good ones are supposed to done over and over and over again.
At least the runs are short, some Broadway theatres have done the same musical for decades. Cats, anyone?
ROAD TRIP!!!!!!!
Brace yourself, London, I am going to be ALL UP in you next year 😃 (I promise I’ll be gentle). Cumberbatch doing Shakespeare for my (only a few weeks late) 30th? Yes please.
Yes! He’ll kill it.
I am happy it’s in 2015, I can hopefully save some money for a trip to London and watch him live. The pic of Fassy and Cumby makes me cackle as each has their mouth open simultaneously in pics. Bad timing
Btw not to scare anyone but this is something I read, does anyone wanna tell me how accurate this site is??? Like come on Cumby cannot be with Taylor Swift or unless it’s some other actor they are hinting at
http://psychicgossip.blogspot.gr/2014/03/elementary.html
Blind gossip sites are NOT reliable.
I even doubt he knows who she is.
I don’t believe it! there is no way Benedict C will go down the publicity dating Taylor Swift game for main stream press coverage. Why doesn’t he date a Kardashian and be done.
Yes guys I believe it’s fake too. He is too old to be her “type”. Also if it was true paps would have at least got one pic of them together but that never happened.
@Penny….hahah lol Kardashians would be the worst. Though I have to say that lately I have started liking Taylor much better as a person.
@Abby, her “type” includes John Mayer, who is 36, and Jake Gyllenhaal, who will be 34 this year, and he’s not much older than they are.
As much as I would be horrified by the prospect, I kinda want it to be true. I would look forward to Taylor’s attempt at an English accent in the inevitable breakup song and the thinly veiled digs in the music video….
@Kali….hhaaah yes that would be something. I am sure one of the digs would be regarding his favorite chambray shirt that he loves to repeat non-stop.
And there would be some kind of scarf removal and hair ruffling action in there too.
oooo that I would not mind at all. But in all honesty this won’t happen ever. They are just too different to be together. Though I would say it has to be Ed Sheeran who probably introduced them with each other as I see no other connection whatsoever.
Weren’t they both at that winter ball in December?
While I think this story is completely false, I maybe sort of want it to be true? I don’t know.
Yes you are right GG, they were both invited there but again no pics of them together. Also they were at the same Golden Globes and Oscar parties but then half of Hollywood was there too so doesn’t really prove anything.
No shade at Taylor but I doubt he even knows the extent of her fame/career. They’re on opposite sides of the spectrum. Plus she likes them very…pretty.
It’s a psychic AND a gossip. Two different brands of unreliable mixed in one. So, no.
This made me LOL. Could you imagine if it was true…
The breakup song would be amazing!
Seems quite plausible to me – she’s certainly his type. And we all remember BC staying in LA for a few months and no apparent reason… 😉
Can’t wait for the breakup song! Would be full of whale-watchin’, donut-eatin’ and blue-shirt-tearin’…
Sorry, I just can’t see it….at all. This is why I despise that he was seen with the Russian as everyone seems to think young blondes are his thing now. Long term, I see him with a 30 something professional, quite like Anna James. Someone who is intelligent, independent and has their own career but not in the same industry. Just my opinion though 🙂
Plus I think the tabloids were reporting Taylor was only dumped like last month by the owner of snapchat. Poor lamb, no luck!
*waiting for Sixer*
Eve! My bellissima!
I think it should be a concept Hamlet, set in the world of social media. Photobombing for every soliloquy.
FINALLY!
Sixer, my dear…you know I love you (and T.Fanty) but I’m here to scold you.
I mean, José Mourinho, girl? That’s right: I saw your “confession” on that other thread.
OMG, I hate him. I. HATE. HIM!!!
You won’t mind if I (not so gently) slap you, will you? I promise it’s for your own good (and that it’ll hurt me a way more than it’ll hurt you).
HA! Slap away. I can take it.
Did you miss my week-long hots for Fassy? I think I am having a midlife crisis or somesuch. Mourinho won’t last on my list either. But his snark levels have gone into overdrive of late (I witness this as Mr Sixer and both the Sixlets are Chelsea fans) and y’know. Snark is HOT. Photobombing is NOT HOT.
Please, you know I miss anything from you. And I love your love for blokes. But Mourinho…
Mourinho cannot last on anyone’s list for crying out loud!!! He’s the jackass who held a press conference just so he could give the Spanish journalists the cold shoulder (he was there, silently — questions should be directed to his assistant; the journalists stood up and left). Yes, snark is fine. I love it. But overall assholeness isn’t.
I do agree on photobombing not being hot though.
Oh, let me run with it my bella. Truly: it won’t last.
Plus, there’s some Tim Roth headed my way this week – in some gold rush TV mini series or other that I will endure just to see him. That’s bound to distract me from wankly-but-hot football managers.
Why can’t TIM do some Shakespeare in London?
Tim Roth. These are magical words to my tired, cynical ears!!!
I love him!
Also, I’d like you to know that one of your favourites blokes (Tom Hardy) is starring in a movie along my newest crush:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1014763/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
I’ll give you a candy if you find out who that is.
I am redeemed, then?
You’re crushing on Joel Kinnaman? But he’s all pretty!
o_O
Oh, my word…you got it right on the first guess! Fanty told you, didn’t she?
In my defense: he’s NOT all pretty. He has a pretty strange face, in my opinion (big eyes, permanent melancholic look on his face, strange mouth when he smiles).
Also in my defense: RoboCop. I liked the remake. Yes, I did. Saw it twice. And he does a very decent Alex Murphy/RoboCop.
In love. Cannot believe I’m saying this, but I’m in love (this is a first, by the way: I have NEVER been attracted to a Swede before).
P.S.: Anyone who loves either Tim Roth or Rufus Sewell is redeemed.
Nope. She didn’t. All my own work!
You know, I’m jealous. I want a new big crush but I can’t find one. All the hot ones get on my nerves. And I can’t concentrate long enough on the unhot ones to fall in lurve.
(I also love Rufus Sewell. Principally for the voice).
Congratulations, then.
Well, I’d suggest…RoboCop!!! Seriously, someone has to save me from myself (because I’m considering watching a THIRD freaking time).
Is the original better? Of course it is. I personally think Paul Verhoeven’s RoboCop is a timeless movie (I’m a sci-fi fan, you see).
But this remake doesn’t “dishonour” it. In fact, it did a pretty good job at adapting the story to these days. Plus: Gary Oldman is the scientist who creates the man-machine. And there’s Jackie Earle Haley playing a snarky (ha!) bastard.
Oldman was promoting it quite heavily. I don’t hoof it to the cinema to see reboots and comic book things, though. Even for Gary. I will see it when it comes to Sky.
Three times? Man alive, woman, you’ve got it bad.
Oldman is great in it. Actually, almost everybody is (except Abbie Cornish — don’t like her).
However, I said I was planning to see it a third time. Not sure if that will happen.
It’s the lip licking scene (he’s being operated by Oldman, says there’s a peanut butter taste in his mouth)…and his…voice? The man has a nice voice, too.
P.S.: I saw two Swedish movies with him on HBO (Easy Money — parts I and II). The movies aren’t great, but he’s a decent actor.
But how much do I hate myself now for never checking The Killing? Now there’s not a single channel airing the series (it used to be on A&E here in Brazil).
Let’s hope he does something gossipworthy (but not cringeworthy) so he can have posts on here. You can post more then. I miss you!
Well, some negative points must be addressed:
1 — According to some his girlfriend Olivia Munn is a bit of a famewhore. I googled her ass (seeking possible validation for HATE) and found out she’s an animal rights activist so…she gets no hate from me (yet);
2 — I don’t like that he’s friends with Alexander Skarsgard though — I know he has many fans here but I get a huge douchebag vibe from that guy;
http://mynewplaidpants.blogspot.com.br/2013/05/why-didnt-anybody-tell-me.html
3 — His arms tattoos — not a fan. One of them shows a quote (I need to know what it says because if that’s some self-help kind of crap, that will help me go through a future detox — you know, in case I fall out of love with him);
4 — He smokes — but, on the other hand, I only see him smoking e-cigs, so…at least he doesn’t puff on other people’s faces.
Update:
Eh, it’s a quote from Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”:
http://santress.tumblr.com/post/7023197051/joel-kinnaman-shows-off-his-tattoos-at-a-press
I’ll leave this one to Fanty (analyze).
*waves*
Those things are fine. Enough to maintain a critical eye; not enough for a CB divorce!
@Sixer, Klondike? That’s quite the cast along with Tim Roth.
“photobombing for every soliquoy” – this. And selfies wih pointy fingers while other characters talk.
Klondike! That’s the one. I wouldn’t usually go for a historical drama on the Discovery Channel (!) but for Tim, anything.
*waves at Eve*
I know I’m far too lowly to be noticed by Your Holiness but I’m excited to be able to prostrate myself before someone so great.
😉
:*
And the great news is: there’s no risk of being shanked anymore!
Watch it Lady S. She can still throw out a mean slap. My backside is stinging over Mourinho.
You deserved it.
I’m applying a fresh aloe vera leaf as I type.
Oh Great Eve.
*prostrates even more*
*whispers to Sixer*
Duh!
Tim Roth and Gary Oldman are quite funny in a Hamlet inspired play that was filmed, Rosengrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. A very young Ian Glenn plays Hamlet but the focus is on R & G.
That film was just shown in my area and I couldn’t attend.
I need to watch it though.
Love that film!
David Tennant played it aged 37 & 38. Michael Sheen played it well into his 40’s. John Simm was also around 40. Jude Law was also late 30’s.
I fell asleep though David Tennant’s Hamlet, really not sure I could sit and watch even Benedict do three hours of Hamlet, unless they contemporise it and do something really new with it.
I mentioned Mel Gibson and Kenneth Branagh above so it looks like he is in good company.
@M.A.F, I remember buying advance tickets to see Gibson’s Hamlet film and finding it unbearable. He was way too old.
I’ve never seen Gibson’s, only Branagh’s but I know when the movie is shown in class rooms, the teachers show Gibson’s. But I think that is only due to the length of the film.
We were shown Olivier’s, with a 40 something Olivier.
But when Orlando Bloom played the role last year in his mid 30’s, comments on this site were basically unanimous to say they couldn’t bear the thought of such an old Hamlet (acting ability aside).
I guess age doens’t matter anymore when the worshipped actor of the moment becomes involved; being in his late 30s even becomes an asset for the role.
Didn’t Orlando play Romeo? A 30 something year old doing Romeo is a fairly different beast to a late 30 something doing Hamlet.
Orly was playing Romeo (possibly even more silly than a 40ish Hamlet), but I remember the discussion on the prospect of Benny the Veep doing Hamlet – and it did come down on the too old side. Still, the more theatre becomes about celebrity casting, the more of this type of thing we’ll see/are seeing. (Yes, Fanty, I know, bums on seats and young bums at that. You are right).
I think Benny will do ok.
I sincerely hope Ben was chosen to play Hamlet because of his abilities, not because his popularity will bring ticket sales…
*resounding silence with only a cricket chirping in the background*
@Sixer – Your nicknames for Ben and the other guy who cannot be named but who also brought ticket sales because of his popularity are classic! You should register them as official monikers. It makes me wish Ben would leave Jag and promote Jeep, just because it rhymes with his nickname! He could rap for them…
I’m Benny the Veep and I drive a Jeep
I’m really kind of smart, profound and deep
I like drinking tea and I like patting sheep
Just hearing my voice will make girls weep
(disclaimer: I don’t actually profess to know if Ben does in fact like patting sheep, but the thought of him doing so makes me laugh).
Oh Squirrel,
Shall we bring sheep into the garden as an experiment? We just need to make sure the sheep don’t eat…flowers like me!
@Secret Squirrel: Of course he likes it, but not as much as the sheep!
http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/17/88/fe/1788feb1c393a01ff6e36dab1f6beb71.jpg
http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lry1te7vr51qjva5ko2_250.jpg
At this point, I really hope that Benny has enough critical acclaim to garner this venue.
I see LadyS, so we can’t have vegetarian sheep that might eat you, or carnivorous sheep that might eat me. Maybe we should leave the sheep out of the garden altogether at this point and not risk it. Plastic sheep might be our only safe option (albeit tasteless option!)
@Pru. Those pics are totally awesome! I never knew they existed (and I’m not sure why they exist!) so now my song makes complete sense!
I’m indifferent to Cumberbatch but I can totally see him slaying this role!
I was really hoping he would do Hamlet in the fall, since I was going to be traveling to London around that time. Oh well. *hangs head in sadness*
I think he would make a great Macbeth! Macbeth in 2016?!
I love Macbeth, I really do. And I know that theatre is different than film. But still, I think two Macbeth films for 2016 with two wonderful actors, that I absolutely love, are enough for me. 😉 Fassbender is currently filming one and Sean Bean is trying to with this project: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/vincentregan/enemy-of-man-feature-film (BTW please make that happen and spread the word!!)
Ohh goody. I’ll be back in London by then. Wonder if the tickets will sell out as quickly as TH and Coriolanus. I know it’s a much bigger theatre and a longer run but…
Nope, there are over 100,000 seats available during a 12 week run at the Barbican. I think lots of the Donmar tickets were sold to members before the general public so there were only a small amount sold to the public. Lots of tickets were given to press people and freebie tickets to actor friends too which is a big chunk of audience when you only have 250 seats.
*Sobbing into a beer*
Why lachrymose, Tommy? I thought you were up for Ophelia. In this concept version we’re planning, Ophelia does lots of weeping after a successful prosecution for celebrity stalking. Then she trips and drowns in a puddle of her own tears. It’ll be great for extending your emotional range. Save the sobs for when they MATTER, darling.
Ohhhhhh! I would be such a nice Ophelia! I even have the candy floss wig. It’s partially chewed, but still looks nice!
Pppplllllllllleeeeeeeeaaaaaase! Let me be Ophelia!
I have my iPhone. I’ll do the makeup right now with lots of mascara so that it will run all over….. I’ll have the film clip to you PRONTO!
I think Ophelia’s final act should be a runny-mascara selfie.
@Sixer, with mardi gras beads around her neck instead of flowers, just to keep things current.
@TommyAnnE, you must calm yourself, dear, so you make a good impression at the audition. You don’t want to lose out to Eddie Redmayne, who already played Viola. You don’t want him to corner all the great Shakespearean female roles.
Aww, don’t cry, dear! You’re still nominated for an Olivier, remember?
Is that a dig at Hiddles? tut-tut, Bet Hiddles get’s the next film/TV version of Hamlet if they do one in the next couple of years – cough-hint @ Whedon.
ooooh… that’s my secret shameful dream: Hiddles as Hamlet. Yes, I know, how cliché. But still…
And I second Kaiser: Cumberbatch as Iago. I want!!!
Yes, a TV or film version so we can get it on DVD.
Tom as Hamlet is my dream as well either Whedon or Brannagh will do.He would rip the heart out of those soliquays
No, ‘p’enny. TommyannE roleplays on here. Surely you’ve seen them before? Very funny.
Tommy: you do know that Bunny has already signed up to work on costumes, don’t you? Velveteen all round.
oh-okay… role play away, i’ll watch 😀
Aww. You’ve frightened him off! (Not really).
Nothing frightens me off. I am a dancing bear! A dancing VELVETEEN bear! And nobody touches Bunny. She came back! Look!
(I hope the role play is fun. I usually cannot resist….)
Oh Tommy. Jungle Book reboot! Can you IMAGINE? Bunny would love you as Baloo.
Hey TommyAnnE how’s bunny doing with the super scary Crimson peak? Also we were wondering if you’ve brought her a carseat for your new Jag
Oh dear! A beer? Have you sunk to the depths of a country song parody?
Janeite is right, you’re nominated for an Olivier. And no one thinks you’ll be Bananaman! Think about the positives here. Your locked into a multi-film contract that guarantees years of work. The guy your crying about is getting his stuff canceled right and left. He’s *whispers* unemployed at the moment.
*commanding voice* Make Bunny proud. Stand up, wipe your tears away, gulp your beer, and let your inner poet be heard!!! You are an artist — channel your feelings into art. If you’re hurt, make us see and feel that hurt too!
Go forth TommyAnnE and release your inner artist!!!
And if you don’t stop crying, Bananaman is back on. As is Captain Caveman (and you’re not the Caveman). So there.
But I WANTED to be Bananaman!
@TommyAnnE
lmao
I think Cumby would do better as Lago also. Hamlet is so up Hiddles alley, like I can just picture him moping about and whining on stage. That said, how much would my husband mind if I jetsetted to London for a week next year?
+1
Glad to know that this is finally going to happen after hearing about it for a while now but with no actual confirmation. And even though it’s not until 2015, it will give Cumby fans something to look forward to.
I love that the Barbican Theatre is basically right around the corner from St Bart’s Hospital. 🙂
Benedict’s got a great director. Lyndsey Turner who directed Chimerica
I hope she follows suit with the other the two female directors, Josie Rourke and Thea Sharrock who both did Shakespeare productions and got their leading man ‘ahem’ topless and wet…
Benedict topless and wet on stage….drool.
That cast should have seen Olivier nominations. I am meh they didn’t get them.
Now if only theatre ticket prices weren’t so darn expensive these days…
Well every actor worth their salt should get a chance to play Hamlet so good for Ben! He would do a wonderful job.
Selfishly, I just hope this doesn’t delay the next season of Sherlock too much!
I was thinking that today. This is going by the assumption that TIG will be nominated and he has something planned this fall after Z.
You know what, I thought the exact same thing.
And I hate to say it, but it probably will. I’m sure Benny’s priority is Hamlet at this point in his life. Which sucks for us.
Also Gatiss already mentioned the show won’t be back on till 2016 probably…
Bloody Shakespeare….
i thought Sherlock would be every two years, so that would make it Christmas 2015 or if you like New Years Day 2016. In which case they could film it Summer 2015 and we can all be happy. Yeah! bring it on now.
And, are people press jumping the gun with TIG, just because some American distributor on a fecking 20 min preview, thinks its the bees knees doesn’t mean it is an Oscar potential. Way too early.
And, the filming of ‘z’ this summer is still dependent on funding – another jumping the gun? It wouldn’t be the first time an actor has been led up a garden path, only to be let down. Fingers crossed and all that… but it seems still to be flaky. I hope for Benedict’s sake it comes off, but i feel he is being messed about.
Penny the funding for Z is clear as Anapurna pictures and Plan B are producing it together. The Plan B producers even mentioned it being their next project after winning the Oscar.
As for TIG, I agree that ppl need to shut it with all the Oscar talk. Harvey buying it doesn’t mean confirmed nomination. He couldn’t get one for Idris Elba this year so we should not get our hopes up only to be disappointed later.
Honestly, I think I’m ok with a S4 delay. It may take me another year to cleanse my palette of S3.
Agreed.
I haven’t even started to watch S3 because I want to keep my wonderful sense of pleasant anticipation for now. I don’t even know how Sherlock survived and tumblr is something I must not visit right now. I want to watch at a relatively stress free time and enjoy it like a piece of very expensive and rare chocolate.
I can wait for S4.
I hope they manage it so all the die-hard fans don’t nab up all the tickets like they did with Coriolanus
I do think pushing 40 IS too old to play Hamlet, but then I think most Hamlets are too old. Cumberbatch might get away with it because imho he looks quite young for his age, and the same could be said for David Tennant. The thing about Hamlet is that, even though there are several indications in the play that the Prince of Denmark is very young – perhaps only in his teens – every Serious Actor wants to play Hamlet on the stage and often they don’t get a chance to do so until they’re considerably older. So I’ve kind of resigned myself to ‘old’ Hamlets, though having an actor in his 40s – like Michael Sheen – take on the role was probably stretching it a bit, brilliant though he is.
I really hope the kray kray fans – you know the ones who run through convent garden after him – ruin it for the rest of us or genuine Shakespeare fans! It is still the theeeeatre after all, not a bloody concert. The venue sits over 1,000 people so if it’s on 12 weeks I don’t think getting tickets will be too much of an issue. Cant wait!!
Re: Turing – I wish people would stop with the oscar/ nomination chat – I would hate to see a ‘set up for a fall’ scenario…
Oh, completely unrelated! The geek glasses are real, not just a statement!!!! Yaaaay.
@ Shiv
I don’t think fans ruined Frankenstein for regular theatre goers. Correct me if I am wrong but I also don’t think there were too many problems after each show either.
They didn’t but then again Cumby is a much bigger deal these days! His fan base has extended to the younger… All you need to do is look at Twitter and Tumblr.
He’ll do an excellent job of it.
Wonder why he can’t until August of 2015. His schedule’s part of the problem, but just Sherlock and the LCOZ don’t account for around 12 months’ of time and that’s excluding prep.
It had to work round his schedule, the director’s schedule and the availability of a largish theatre. I think the theatre availability was the real factor jn the 2015 date.
@Maggie
I read that too; it’s just odd the added sources in the post note his schedule particularly. Of course, I think he said something before about a not SW project that may come after LCOZ and push Hamlet out of 2014, so I’m just curious now lol.
Apropos of nearly nothing, except vaguely comment number 20, Benedict singing happy birthday to a fan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlAzxDj4MS4
So cute, Liberty, thanks!
Will there ever be a 39 year old Ophelia? Until somebody casts a middle-aged woman in that role, they shouldn’t be casting middle-aged men as Hamlet. Yes, I realize that it is all about “acting” and a really good 39 year old actor should be able to play a troubled college student, but I have trouble with anyone over the age of 28 playing Hamlet. I would have loved to have seen Ben Whishaw’s version. When I was very young, I saw Mark Rylance’s Hamlet (he played him as bipolar in the manic state) and it was a truly incredible theater experience. Since every actor seems to want to play Hamlet, perhaps there should be a never-ending production somewhere with actors rotating into the part, with every actor getting to be Hamlet for a three week run? But again, why do actors who are well past Hamlet’s age get to play Hamlet while Ophelia is almost always age-appropriate to the text?
Because the world revolves around men.
@Lilacflowers
I agree re: Ophelia’s age being flexible. Maybe we’ll get that in this play.
However, the specific issue with Hamlet is that it’s considered a rite of passage for male actors but getting it staged when you’re younger is incredibly difficult, even if you dream of doing it. Whishaw’s early play and educational background makes him one of the rare exceptions, same goes for Ryland. They were proven enough at 23 and 28 via years of professional stagework behind them to secure a willing director and producer.
In the cases of Cumberbatch, Tennant and the older Hamlets previously mentioned, there was likely no opportunity to do Hamlet until they were older no matter how much they wanted to try. I could be wrong, but I don’t think Ophelia has that significance–it’s Cleopatra (who dominates the play) or Lady Macbeth as the rite of passage for women.
I think if an actor is part of a theatrical company, it is easier to get the role at the appropriate age. I saw a version of Hamlet last year, for the life of me, I can’t remember the name of the British theater group that brought it to Boston or the young (early 20s) actor who played the part, but he was fabulous). The bigger star productions do, as you say require funding and name recognition, which most don’t have until they’re past the age. Although Jude Law is a puzzlement – he was a known quantity while he was in his 20s but didn’t do Hamlet until he was pushing 40. And, he is NOT aging well.
In 1885, Sarah Bernhardt played Ophelia at age 41. In 1899. at age 54, she played Hamlet.
Per Women in the Age of Shakespeare, by Theresa D. Kemp
Bravo, Sarah!
Ben Whishaw played Hamlet?! I would love to see that.
LadySlippers, around men who want to pair off with women young enough to be their daughters.
Oh yes. I have yet to see his Richard II from the Hollow Crown, but he’s magnificent in the clips I’ve already seen. I can imagine his Hamlet was wonderful.
one of the few who were age appropriate for the role.
Eh, my long winded point above is that we get old Hamlets because the actors playing him usually make the play happen to begin with. It’s not open casting for Hamlet in these ‘rite of passage’ cases; the actor either seeks out a director to stage it or is specifically targeted by a director to do it. So, if Cumberbatch didn’t want to do Hamlet, this Hamlet wouldn’t be happening at all.
True, Katie, and Hamlet is an ego project and there really is no similar female role in the theatrical canon. Every actress breathing doesn’t want to play Hedda Gabler or Antigone, but all the guys want to do Hamlet. As I said elsewhere on this thread, Hamlet should just be a never-ending production somewhere, like Cats, and actors should be able to cycle through the part in two week bits so they all get to be Hamlet at some point.
I’d be inclined to draw together what Lilac and Katie said and suggest that it says a great deal that it’s only the boys who get to initiate their own productions and thus become 30-something Romeos and 40-something Hamlets.
@Lilac – it is a shame Rylance is such a tinhatter (if it’s not de trop to bring up authorship) because he is something else as an actor. Have you seen his portrait by Spencer Murphy who did the weepy Hiddles Coriolanus? Look at the eyes!
http://spencermurphy.tumblr.com/post/26484227060/mark-rylance-telegraph-magazine
Mark Rylance is amazing. I saw him play Cleopatra in an all male version of “Antony and Cleopatra”. Again with the “male” thing, though. It’s a shame more theaters don’t do all female casts of plays.
Are his eyes really that green?
@ Alright then
The Donmar where Hiddles did Coriolanus did an all-female version of Julius Caesar a couple of years ago. They were criticised for being gimmicky so those sort of productions don’t roll around very often.
@froop – love how the all females are “gimmicky” but when it’s all males it’s brilliant… Ugh.
I would have loved to have seen both Whishaws Hamlet and Mark Rylences. I have been told that there isa recording of Ben’s Hamlet which if you go up to London you can sit and watch it in private. I just cannot remember who holds it.
Rylance’s Hamlet was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The production here (American Repertory Theater at Harvard) was set it in the 1930s with everybody wearing military uniforms as if it were a fascist state. And Rylance played Hamlet as bi-polar in the manic state. He was mesmerizing and frightening and exhausting (as those in the manic state can be) and unforgettable. I have never seen anyone else approach the character that way.
@Lilacflowers
It’s definitely an ego project, although I can’t blame them for doing it to be in line with peers. Not sure what happened with Jude Law either, lol.
I am oddly pleased BC is going with a woman director. All the other Hamlets mentioned here so far had men leading the production, so maybe Lyndsey Turner will bring something new to it.
Everyone who’s actually read the play knows Hamlet is 30. I guess this is why I come to celebitchy for celebrity gossip, not insightful Shakespeare commentary…
@ wamfient
You’re correct, I forgot that’s in Act 5…
Actually, one of the regulars here is a professor specialising in Shakespeare. Jus’ sayin’.
And Hamlet’s age is a topic of textual debate. Ironically enough, partly surrounding the accommodation of an older actor.
40 is the new 30 anyway!!
I don’t think Hamlet (or any character) needs to be played by an actor of the exact same age provided the essence of the character is not lost by it. I mean, Hamlet has been played by women in the past as well, so it doesn’t have to be letter perfect to the written version. Variety is the spice of life and I’m sure Shakespeare would probably enjoy the way his works have been interpreted in so many different ways.
Oh yes – Asta Nielsen’s Hamlet!! *swoon* And she was even 39 years old when the film was made.
Hamlet, like a number of Shakespeare plays, has unclear (or double) timelines. You can make the argument that Hamlet is late teens/early 20s or you could argue that he’s 30. Late 30s is certainly older than Hamlet textually is, but I’m fine with seeing great actors in their 30s and 40s play the role. Simon Russel Beale did Hamlet at 50 (with an Ophelia who seemed to be in her 40s and was amazing. I did see Ben Whishaw, and while there is something to be said for more experienced actors handling that language (I’d love to see him play the role now), he was great and there was a lot that clicked into place with a younger actor.
Also, the all-female Julius Caesar was amazing. There’s definitely a bias towards favoring all male productions as more “historically accurate” and denigrating all-female productions.
I’m very excited to see BC play Hamlet, because I’m excited to see any great actor tackle Hamlet, but Iago might be my dream role for him. Well, Iago/Macbeth/Benedick.
I love Cumby and I love Shakespeare but this so is not my jam. I think he is a tremendous actor but I don’t really see him as being able to tap into Hamlet’s wishy washy, petulant vibe. I would much rather see someone like Ben Whishaw in this sort of role and Cumby in a different Shakespeare vehicle like Iago in Othello, of Edmund in Lear.
I do like that Benedict is returning to stage work though and I wish the production huge success.