Review of David Tennant in "Hamlet" and "Much Ado About Nothing"

[prelocandkanar]

So.  David Tennant and Shakespeare.  Do I go fan-girl or literate?  I'll try for literate this time:

As I sit down to write this review, I must confess that I am tempted to feign a greater level of expertise and familiarity with Shakespeare than I in fact possess.  My mother was an English professor at the college level, and I grew up with the

Comments

[sykira]

Wow. I couldn't agree more! I have my own fangirly ramblings about DT in MAAN if you want me to link you but basically a huge HECK YES to all of this. Shakespeare bored me before DT if I am to be brutally honest but watching MAAN I finally GOT it. Fresh, bold and exciting indeed! Blew my socks off and I love your descriptions here because it brings it all back. You should see Talking Over the Asylum if you ever get the chance, he's compelling.

AND you are a fellow DS9 fan! Let me love you!

[prelocandkanar]

Oooh, only if you let me love you back!!

I went over to your journal, went to your tags page and read everything there about MAAN. I loved!!! what you wrote, and the other folks' reviews that you linked to, as well. You, and they, said it all much better than I did. A real pleasure to read!

I actually have ordered Taking Over the Asylum; it's due around the end of January. In the meantime, I have a few more things to watch.

Another DS9 fan, yea! And you're a Sid fan, too. Excellent taste! (I wondered if loving Sid and DT reveals a trend. Tall, skinny, lovely accent. Although many differences as well.)

Well, I just finished "Single Father." Now *that* needs writing about...

[sykira]

I have a few more links if you want, that I just added you to the filter for, mostly DT but also some CT gushing fangirling! http://sykira.livejournal.com/80479.html
sykira.livejournal.com/79998.html
http://sykira.livejournal.com/82146.html

[prelocandkanar]

Thanks! I can't wait to read it all! :D

DT :-)

[woodsie22]

I'm glad that you've found your way into the world of David Tennant. I was fortunate to have discovered him about 6 years ago, so I was actually able to see both plays live, and I know that I enjoyed them both greatly

Re: DT :-)

[prelocandkanar]

Oh, thank you for this!

I actually just finished watching "Single Father," and am going to try to write something in the next few days. Although there were some issues with it, I think it was a great, great showcase for Tennant's range.

"Takin' Over the Asylum" is on order, and expected to arrive at the end of January.

The "Nesbitt" -- is that "Davinna"? Yes, I did watch all the YouTubes of "Davinna," including the final scene with that guy groping D in the closet. "I've got a big surprise for you....!"

"Recovery," I've read about but not seen. Is it available on DVD? I have a multi-region player, but I didn't see it on Amazon. I see a nine-part "Recovery" on YouTube... is that complete? Anyway, I'm off to watch it.

Thanks again for this!

Re: DT :-)

[woodsie22]

Yes on Nesbitt, and that sounds like the complete version of Recovery. It was just a one-off. You're in for a treat. I don't know how it hasn't made it to dvd, but I think there are bootlegs on ioffer, and, of course, torrents.

[leianora]

Oh my! I've actually been looking forward to viewing these plays for a while now. Since I've been blind since birth, the thing that sticks out for me is, of course, the auditory performances of the actors. DT captures me whenever he does the BBC Big Finish audio shows. It doesn't matter what part he plays, he's amazing! As Luther Arkwrite or Dr. Who, As Col. Wood or merely a bit part cop, he is utterly brilliant! I can hear his voice inside my head at any given moment and be spot on with the exactness of it. There are not very many actors I can do that with, but he is one of them

[woodsie22]

I saw both of Branagh's versions, too, and his Hamlet was my go to Hamlet version until I saw DT's Hamlet. Now it's my standard by which I judge Hamlet.

Another good voice actor I love is Benedict Cumberbatch from Sherlock. Now, David does better characterizations in the audio dramas, because he switches accents for the characters so well. But, Benedict has the better voiceover or narrator voice. Still, I could listen to either of them read a phone book.

[prelocandkanar]

woodsie22, I'm not familiar with Benedict Cumberbatch, although I've heard of him. To be honest, at first I thought he was a made-up character, with a name like that! I think DT mentioned him once. I haven't seen Sherlock yet, although I'm watching Elementary and definitely have Sherlock on the list.

"Listen to [someone] read a phone book" is such a cliche, but in David Tennant's case, it's so true, isn't it?? I could listen to him read or say anything. While "How to Train Your Dragon" certainly had its charms (I thought it was very good, actually), having David's voice in my ear while I walk the dog is one the best pleasures I can think of! Now I'll have to seek out Benedict Cumberbatch.

[prelocandkanar]

Leianora, one of the most pleasurable parts of following David Tennant is his voice! Both in terms of his accent and his actual voice. Over on David-Tennant.com they have a complete (I think) list of audio links for him -- all this radio interviews and co-hosting (like with Christian O'Connell on the Breakfast Show on Absolute Radio), as well as his audio books

[sue_denimme]

It always amazes me that there are people who think DT is a huge ham. He's not, it's the characters he plays! If the character is quirky and high-strung (like Ten), then he plays it quirky and high-strung. If the character is quiet and reserved (like Eddington in Einstein and Eddington), then he plays it quiet and reserved. He can do subtle, he can do wacky, he can do evil, he can bawl his eyes out if required -- he can do *anything*.

BTW, Einstein and Eddington is another good thing to look out for, as are Learners, Secret Smile, and United, for a bigger sampling of the range he has.

(Oh, and I'm a DS9 fan too. Hi. *waves*)

[prelocandkanar]

Hi, Sue! [waves back!]

I had read about "Eddington and Einstein," and you've pushed me over. Also, my teenage daughter (well, I've outed myself as being a mom) is a science geek, and I think this story will be interesting to her, to. Besides... I'm well and truly sunk now. I must own or at least see everything Tennant possible.

[sue_denimme]

His performance in E&E is especially sensitive. And definitely check out Secret Smile, where he is SUPER creepy as an obsessed stalker.

Also... *whispers* check out "theproselytizer"'s channel on Youtube. They have tons of DT's performances, though the titles are altered (e.g. "Sprintdall and Jumpkirk" for "Randall and Hopkirk", and "So You Think I'm Scottish" for his episode of "Who Do You Think You Are").

[sue_denimme]

Oh, and there's also Casanova, if you haven't seen that yet. It's available on DVD. That was the project that first brought him and RTD together. :-)