I saw this National Theatre production which had been filmed live when it was beamed into the Beacon cinema in Eastbourne on 21st March 2024.
It was about the rehearsal of Hamlet directed by Sir John Gielgud, at the time a bit of a has-been, and starring Richard Burton, the latest celebrity actor, performed on Broadway in 1964. It was a birth that had a difficult labour, Gielgud’s classical style of acting clashing repeatedly with Burton’s modernist approach. There were escalating arguments. Just before the interval, Burton mocked, aped and humiliated Gielgud. Burton’s wife, Elizabeth Taylor, had to effect some sort of reconciliation. Because the show must go on (although, as Noel Coward asked in a song played after the interval: why?).
It wasn’t always easy to follow, especially in the early stages as Burton rattled off Shakespeare. But as it built, as it built, it became obsessive watching. Here were these two utterly different personalities: Gielgud locked into sad denial of life following his belated acceptance of his homosexuality, his late discovery of love, and Burton, forever scarred by his mother’s early death and his father’s rejection of him, making up his memories and drinking to forget. And somehow, somehow they had to forge a production that is now remembered as one of the best, the longest-running Hamlet on Broadway. And the scene near the end, where Burton has at last found his motive and he performs the ‘to be’ speech, starting with almost unbearable silence as he fidgets, was mesmerising.
Johnny Flynn was superb as Burton and Mark Gatiss as Gielgud was even better. Tuppence Middleton also played an Elizabeth taylor who was far more intelligent and empathetic than I ever imagined her. Other super performances from a generally excellent cast were Luke Norris as Guildenstern and Laurence Ubong Williams as a delightfully kind rent-boy (shades of Leo Grande).
Johnny Flynn was superb as Burton and Mark Gatiss as Gielgud was even better. Tuppence Middleton also played an Elizabeth taylor who was far more intelligent and empathetic than I ever imagined her. Other super performances from a generally excellent cast were Luke Norris as Guildenstern and Laurence Ubong Williams as a delightfully kind rent-boy (shades of Leo Grande).
Superbly written and brilliantly played. A memorable evening's entertainment.
In the 2024 Olivier Awards, TMATC was nominated for Best New Play. Mark Gatiss (playing John Gielgud) won Best Actor. Sam Mendes was nominated for Best Director.
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