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IMDbPro

Stratford Festival: Hamlet

Original title: Hamlet
  • 20162016
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 2h 46m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
45
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
141,960
29,527
Stratford Festival: Hamlet (2016)
Drama
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, is in mourning for his dead father, the king. He's also disturbed by how quickly his mother, Gertrude, has remarried - and by the fact that her new spouse is Claud... Read allHamlet, Prince of Denmark, is in mourning for his dead father, the king. He's also disturbed by how quickly his mother, Gertrude, has remarried - and by the fact that her new spouse is Claudius, her late husband's brother (and thus Hamlet's uncle). Hamlet's disgust at this incest... Read allHamlet, Prince of Denmark, is in mourning for his dead father, the king. He's also disturbed by how quickly his mother, Gertrude, has remarried - and by the fact that her new spouse is Claudius, her late husband's brother (and thus Hamlet's uncle). Hamlet's disgust at this incestuous union, which has also robbed him of his succession to the throne, turns to fury when ... Read all
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
45
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
141,960
29,527
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Directors
      • Antoni Cimolino
      • Shelagh O'Brien(television director)
    • Writer
      • William Shakespeare
    • Stars
      • Tim Campbell
      • Jonathan Goad
      • Adrienne Gould
    Top credits
    • Directors
      • Antoni Cimolino
      • Shelagh O'Brien(television director)
    • Writer
      • William Shakespeare
    • Stars
      • Tim Campbell
      • Jonathan Goad
      • Adrienne Gould
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1User review
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • Photos

    Stratford Festival: Hamlet (2016)
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    Top cast

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    Tim Campbell
    Tim Campbell
    • Horatio
    Jonathan Goad
    Jonathan Goad
    • Hamlet
    Adrienne Gould
    • Ophelia
    John Kirkpatrick
    John Kirkpatrick
    • Marcellus…
    Seana McKenna
    • Gertrude
    Mike Nadajewski
    Mike Nadajewski
    • Osric
    Thomas Antony Olajide
    Thomas Antony Olajide
    • Voltemand
    • (as Thomas Olajide)
    Tom Rooney
    • Polonius
    Mike Shara
    Mike Shara
    • Laertes
    Geraint Wyn Davies
    Geraint Wyn Davies
    • Claudius
    • Directors
      • Antoni Cimolino
      • Shelagh O'Brien(television director)
    • Writer
      • William Shakespeare
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Connections
      Version of Le duel d'Hamlet (1900)

    User reviews1

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    To be or not to be
    One can see why 'Hamlet' is one of Shakespeare's best known and acclaimed plays with such memorable characters, some of the most deservedly famous in all literature, and text often quoted and referenced. It is long and not easy to perform at all (namely physchologically), but the characterisation, language and complex emotions and psychology have always riveted me and it has always been one of my favourites from Shakespeare.

    While a pretty good production of 'Hamlet', this Stratford production was a little disappointing by their usual standards. Other filmed Shakespeare productions of theirs are a lot more appealing and cohesive visually, took more risks and had more depth. There are a lot of things done right, primarily a vast majority of the performances and the atmosphere. Just wish that the quality was more consistent, have actually noticed that a few of their best productions have been of the lesser known plays.

    Am going to start with the good. Jonathan Goad is mostly very impressive as Hamlet, energetic and intense and he shows convincing enough growth as a character. He has very poignant chemistry with Adrienne Gould's moving and never passive Orphelia. Geraint Wyn Davis is an authoritative and sinister Claudius and Tom Rooney is a darkly complex and darkly funny Polonious. Tim Campbell's Horatio is suitably thoughtful. Not to mention the blistering fire that Mike Shara gives to Laertes. The acting in fact is the best thing.

    Did find myself very impressed by the character interaction and chemistry, which had its fair share of tension, wit and emotion. There is some nice atmosphere in the foreboding lighting and the intimate filming, as well as the eerie use of sound. Shakespeare's dialogue shines brilliantly and comes to life in any scene where two or more characters are interacting together. Particularly good is the chemistries between Hamlet and Orphelia (where it is clear that they are in love) and between Claudius and Gertrude.

    Having said that, there are things that could have been better. Was not crazy about the production values this time, the sets are too sparse and the costumes are a stylistic and period mishmash. There are Shakespeare plays that do lend themselves to different settings, dependent on the themes namely, 'Coriolanus' for example works modernised as it is still a thematic and politically relevant play. There are some where the settings are very specific and where anything different would jar too much with the text and character writing. 'As You Like It' is an example of this, and it tends to be the case with 'Hamlet', especially when the time and place is not discernible (at least the David Tennant version's setting was clear).

    While the ensemble scenes are excellent on the whole, the production can lose momentum in the sollilloquies. Was disappointed in the famous "to be or not to be" speech, which didn't come over as melancholic enough and it would have helped if Goad deepened his interpretation earlier to make the lead up feel less sudden. While all the staging is well detailed and tasteful, there is not much here that feels original and it's a bit safe perhaps too. Seana McKenna's performance as Gertrude is uncharacteristically uneven, she's great with Davis and is suitably scheming but seemed bewildered in the aftermath of the Hamlet and Gertrude confrontation, didn't buy how quickly she goes from truly impassioned in guilt to like that big event had never happened.

    Overall, a lot to admire but a little disappointing. 7/10.
    helpful•8
    0
    • TheLittleSongbird
    • Mar 18, 2022

    Details

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    • Release date
      • April 24, 2016 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Official site
      • media coverage
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Hamlet
    • Filming locations
      • Festival Theatre, Stratford, Ontario, Canada
    • Production company
      • Melbar Entertainment Group
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      2 hours 46 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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