Jonathan O'Neill’s Reviews > Hamlet: Revised Edition > Status Update

Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief,
That can denote me truly. These indeed 'seem',
For they are actions that a man might play,
But I have that within which passes show,
These but the trappings and the suits of woe.

A bitter and powerful rebuke when heard performed!

Do you have a favorite performance of Hamlet, Jonathan? The way you said when heard performed made me curious if there’s a particular actor or production you have in mind.

Not a favourite, Pia, as this is my first experience with the work. I'm reading the text now but throughout the week I have listened to a performance from a 'BBC Radio - Shakespeare Tragedies' collection that I bought on audible. It had, amongst others, Michael Sheen as Hamlet, Kenneth Cranham as King Claudius, Juliet Stevenson as Gertrude and David Bradley as Polonius. It was fantastic actually and Sheen was indeed the actor I had in mind. I will be seeking out a couple of filmed stage productions over the next couple of weeks as well as, at the very least, the Branagh and Olivier films so I'll give an update on my preferred stage setting when I've had my fill :)

Jonathan wrote: "Not a favourite, Pia, as this is my first experience with the work. I'm reading the text now but throughout the week I have listened to a performance from a 'BBC Radio - Shakespeare Tragedies' coll..."

I love Shakespeare’s plays and I think Hamlet was actually the first one I read, although that was years ago. I hadn’t read or learned nearly as much then as I have since, so I’ve been meaning to go back to it and see what I make of it now.

We also had a one-man production of Hamlet here in Turkey with Bülent Emin Yarar. I never got to see it, unfortunately, but I would have loved to - the idea of experiencing the play that way really fascinates me. And if I were listening to Hamlet as an audiobook, I think I’d cast Salih Bademci as Hamlet in my head. Somehow his voice just feels right for him.😊

Pia G. wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "Not a favourite, Pia, as this is my first experience with the work. I'm reading the text now but throughout the week I have listened to a performance from a 'BBC Radio - Shakespear..."

A one-man production! Quite the workload for the poor lad! 😁
It's funny, apparently as an actor you know you've made it when you get to play the part of Hamlet. So, what does it mean when you play the entire cast? God-tier actor, surely! 😂

I notice both the men you mentioned are Turkish. Is this the language you feel most comfortable approaching Shakespeare or have you tackled him in English. While listening and reading Shakespeare, it really makes me think on how much of his linguistic brilliance would be lost in translation and it almost feels as though it would be too much. But then I am reminded of the fact that I very much enjoyed Pushkin, Homer and the great Greek tragedians etc. which is entirely the same circumstance.

Indeed, when we read something for the second, third, fourth time etc. we are almost a different person each time and so the experience affects us anew. Particularly if you have a bad memory like me 😏 I hope you'll enjoy it when you return with your new lenses! :)

Yikes Jonno - now you're just showing off dude!!!!!! 😬🎈

Mark wrote: "Yikes Jonno - now you're just showing off dude!!!!!! 😬🎈"

😂 I recall that you are familiar with Shakespeare's works, Markus! This is actually my first "official" reading of Shakespeare other than the sonnets. I'm glad I didn't attempt it when I was younger. I think I would've found it too daggy and "uncool". As it is, I'm absolutely loving it. I find his use of the language absolutely irresistable and I kinda wish we spoke like this for real! 😆