Spoiler warning: If you read this, you're going to be spoiled for absolutely everything, from costumes to stage design to changes to the script to David Tennant's crotch. It's all in here. Don't read if you're planning to see it and want to be surprised by what they did with the production.

It's very long. Sorry about that. Also, it assumes that you know what the play's plot is. If you don't, you can read it up here.

( Click here for an attempt at a proper review. May still contain fangirly flailing. )

If you have the money and the time to come down to London and see the production, you totally should. It's really, really good, and not just because it's got Catherine and David. They don't hurt, though. Neither does the crossdressing. Or the dancing. <3

If you can't come to London to see the play--or if you can but feel that everyone should get to see it--you can always sign the petition that's asking for the production to be released on DVD. I know, it's a bit of a long shot, but hey. It worked for Hamlet.

Handed in my FMP yesterday. I think it's good. I think it's possibly the best of the course this year. But fuck am I glad it's done with. I have two more written things to complete till Tuesday, and a Q&A session to attend on Wednesday, and then I'm done with uni. Huh.

I will get around to filling at least a couple of the prompts you guys left me the other day. I've just been really crazily busy. I haven't even gotten around yet to watching Exile.

Here's a cute interview with David and Catherine about Much Ado. It's got a cute picture, too. I also just bought this. Someone tell me to stop spending money.

Speaking of money, I just remembered that the fundraising people I worked for a while ago still owe me my holiday pay. I will have to chase them down. Will also have to chase down a couple of FMP people for money. Why is it that you always have to chase people down if you want money from them? Stupid question, I know, but still. It gets tiresome.

This is a very random post. It needs more pictures. This is the first thing you get from Google images if you type in "random". Anyone know what it is? I have no clue.

ETA: Oh. I think it's primes. Is it primes?

So I didn't vid, and I didn't make a DT 40th birthday picspam, either. Instead, I went and watched Hamlet.

I'd never watched the DVD version before. I went to see it live in Stratford in 2008, and I was thrilled when they released it on DVD, because I loved the RSC production a lot, and not just because of David Tennant. But for some reason, I'd never actually watched the DVD--until now.

I'm not sure if I like the CCTV-ish effect they added in the DVD version. I can see what they were trying to do, and I did like the scene where Hamlet tears the camera down, but the whole video-taping the play bit, and Hamlet keeping a "video-diary", I don't know. It felt a teeny bit contrived.

Also, they made some odd choices when it came to locations. The DVD version felt much more cramped than the stage version did. I think the oddest choice was that weird staircase/kitchen area where Hamlet is brought before Claudius after having killed Polonius. Weird location. I wasn't sure why he would interrogate him in the staircase. I suppose they were possibly trying to go for an "underbelly" sort of feel--the rotten, run-down parts of the palace where Claudius makes decisions like sending Hamlet to England and having him killed, versus the shiny, pretty parts of the palace where Claudius pretends to be kind and generous. Possibly? But I was still confused by the stairs.

I did like it, though! David gets to be extra-nuts, even more so than he was on stage. Patrick Stewart works much better on television than he does on stage. He has a tendency to act with the tiny muscles in his face, and unless you've got front-row seats, you miss out on all of that in the theater. When I saw it in Stratford, I felt like he was doing a lot of standing around and not acting at all. Yes, correct, I did not have front-row seats.

I love Gertrude in this adaption. I adore Hamlet's and Horatio's dynamics. I'm not so sure about Ophelia; she's hard to get right. This production didn't do it any worse than other productions, but they didn't do it any better, either. Same with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Laertes is good; I really like the actor. And thank you, RSC, for leaving out all the boring Fortinbras nonsense. Every time I go to see Hamlet, the play gets to the last scene and I go all weepy and emotional for Hamlet and Horatio and their star-crossed love, and then they tack on those few lines about Fortinbras at the end and I go . . . that was unnecessary. I think the RSC production is the only production I've seen that does the sensible thing and ends on the Hamlet/Horatio dialog.

So, generally, I do like the DVD version. I may have to buy the DVD. But the stage version was better. Unsurprisingly, I guess. Live is always better than DVD, where theater is concerned.

( Because I felt like it. )

The first pic is my favorite, though.

Guess who has awesome amazing front row tickets for Much Ado About Nothing.



They were horribly expensive. But I'm sure it'll be worth it. Tennant and Tate live on stage! :D :D I'm going with wihluta and earlwyn on May 27. It can be my graduation present to myself, or something.

I have a job interview on Monday. This should be incentive enough for me to try and actually get that job.

Now I have to go cook food and write an essay. I just felt I needed to let the internet know that for the first time ever, I actually have decent theater seats! :D

I wasn't going to post any new entries until I had responded to the comments on my previous two entries--yes, I suck, I'm sorry. :/ My only excuse is that last week was really busy uni-wise.--but THEN I SAW THIS. And had to post about it.

Tennant and Tate reunite for Much Ado.

Asdskjfd. June 1 till September 3; that means I could make my parents give me those tickets as a birthday present. Or if I can't do that, I'll figure out something else. Catherine Tate, David Tennant, and Shakespeare! I'm there.

Who else is going?

ontd_feminism: GameCrush Lets Guys Pay Money To Play Online Games With Women (Seriously)

The phrase "what is this I don't even" was never more appropriate. I honestly have no other reaction to this. What. Just . . . what.

Right. On to more pleasant things.

( I went to see John Simm as Hamlet on Saturday! )

So I just decided I'm going to Sheffield to see John Simm as Hamlet. Because it's only about £50, including tickets and trip, and I want to have the geek cred points it would get me to have seen both DT and JS doing Hamlet.

I'm aiming for the 7:15 performance on Saturday, Sep 25. Who wants to come with? Tickets are £20. wihluta?

ETA: Just bought my ticket. There was only a single one left for Sep 25, so I am going on my own. SORRY EVERYONE. I shall Report, when I get back.

Just a quick FYI post:

Apparently, they'll be making a film version of Hamlet in June.

Awesome, awesome news. The play was incredible, and I am so buying this DVD. \o/ I found the link in a post on doctorwho.

I'm at uni at the moment. I was meant to meet with my project group at 9, but none of them showed up. AS USUAL. Srsly, I am so sick and tired of being the only one who ever shows up even only marginally on time. >:/

OH GOD NO! :(((((

We can however confirm that David will not be performing in Hamlet from 26 December 2008 to 3 January 2009 inclusive.

:( David. :(

That means not only won't I be able to see him in Hamlet on the 1st, but also that I won't be able to stalk him at the stage door on the 2nd and the 3rd.

Why so unfair, universe?

I was gonna make a post about how I finally managed to do my Christmas shopping, but I won't now. I'll just be over here and SULK. :(

So apparently, David's surgery went well and he's resting now. This is me trying not to perv over mental images of a sleepy, fuzzy-headed post-surgery David.

In sadder news, apparently his doctors are less optimistic about him returning to Hamlet at all than the RSC. More here.

This is my epic sadface. I want David as Hamlet, not Bennett. :( Worst thing is, you can't even be mad at him about this. I feel as bad for him as I feel for all the people who are missing his Hamlet performance.

Oh sigh. Stop having a faily back, David, and go be Hamlet, mmkay?

:( Stop that, David.

I mean... I've seen Hamlet already. I can afford to feel sympathetic. I don't want to imagine how the people feel who haven't seen him yet and are missing out. (And oh, are they missing out. I loved Bennett as Laertes, and I'm sure he's a great actor, but David as Hamlet? There are just not a lot of things that can beat that - if any.)

I will still be epically disappointed if he can't do the January performances either. Especially since I won't have anyone to gripe about, since I will just feel epically bad for David. Adfadjhf.

In conclusion, don't make your star actors fly across staircases, RTD. It hurts their backs. :(

In other, more cheerful news - I am so, so full of smugness and glee tonight. See, I've got this studio course. We're a group of about 18 people, and we have to work together as a studio crew to put together a project and film it. I actually wanted to be the producer, but for some reason, in our first class I ended up as the director. Mostly because I put my hand up when the tutor asked for 'someone bossy'. ;)

Anyway, there's this guy in my group - let's call him L.. L. wanted to direct, but he failed to speak up, so I got the job, and he ended up on auto cue (hur hur hur). The auto cue chair is right behind the director's chair, and all throughout the class, he kept making digs at me about how I always push myself in the foreground and how I'm not a team player and blah blah and etcetera. I offered him several times to take over the director's chair, but he was always all, 'oh, no, no, you go on and direct, I will play Mr Moral Highground, and next week, I will be director and kick your ass so badly.'

Yeah, today was next week, and guess what? Mr Moral Highground didn't show up, because he went home for Christmas. And today, we got our jobs assigned for the rest of the course. Which means I'm going to be directing, and L. will just have to take one of the jobs that are left over. Mwahaha. Mine is an evil laugh.

Directing is fun. You get to go all megalomaniac on everyone and tell them what they have to do and they have to listen to you. You get a mike that transmits your instructions to everyone, and you get to yell at the camera people. I am so very tempted to go, 'Move Camera 1 to the right! For great justice!' but I have a feeling that all that will get me is odd looks.

It'd be epic, though. I might do it, just for the personal lulz.

D: Oh noes!

Hamlet no-show for actor Tennant

I feel like such a bad person for being so relieved it's not my performance he's pulling out of. But then, I'm unreasonable where David is concerned. I just hope he'll feel better soon, and not only because I want him and not Bennett as Hamlet on the 1st.

Poor Bennett. I just hope the audience won't be too cruel.

I just got home from Stratford.

It was amazing. David was amazing, Patrick Stewart was amazing, the productions were amazing, and I got my Hamlet program signed and had David standing like a foot away from me - wearing one of his his ever-favorite gray hoodies - which was also completely amazing.

svanderslice, whom I got to meet, was also amazing. And her husband is sweet.

And now I am going to fall into bed and sleep for a long while, because I have been up all night and am tired. You'll get a more detailed report later today.