I didn't think Tennant overacted that, I thought he did really well.

But I think it is possible to overact it, and quite tempting for a big screen star to do that. I saw the recent Jude Law Hamlet in London and I think he could have done with a bit less wailing and throwing himself around the stage.

Not sure if Patrick Stewart's Claudius really fit in with Tennant's Hamlet though. He seemed to be reprising his famous performance you can see in the BBC Shakespeare version, where he played a very dignified and competent ruler instead of an evil and debauched drunk; so you can't help thinking you'd be a lot more confident with him running the kingdom than that weirdo prince. But Tennant's Hamlet seemed pretty shrewd too, so you didn't get the big contrast.

Also I only recently found out that in the source play Shakespeare relied on, Hamlet successfully killed the tyrant, became King himself, and everyone lived happily ever after. Shakespeare just decided it would be a lot better if everybody died horribly instead.

OH MY SWEET GOURD IN HEAVEN. Thank you. Now I know what we're doing tonight.

WHOO WHOO STAYING IN SATURDAY NIGHT TO WATCH SHAKESPEARE! We're old.

kellyd,

I don't have a book resource, just practical stuff, but the supernatural is very freeing because it can be anything.

I directed the Hamlet Ghost scene in grad school and used two actors, a man and a woman, battling each other, moving in non-standard ways, to do the ghost. And I still use the monologue for auditions - " I am thy father's spirit" etc. I think the supernatural is a great opportunity for creativity, and I think Shakespeare would embrace that.

Rainbaby- I totally agree. It's an undergrad thesis, so only 40 pages, which means that was my vague proposal so I could line up an adviser. (Got my first pick, woo!)
I may narrow it down to just ghosts or, more likely, just magic and witchcraft, since that would let me write about Macbeth and The Tempest, which are two of my favorites.

*Geeks out* - Watch "Scottland, PA" - for MacBeth, and I have played a witch. And I have directed a full Professional production of "The Tempest", so email me if you want! I am very interested! YAY!

rainbaby, have you ever seen Prospero's Books? I saw it when it came out... I was tripping my ass off, and I loved it. My companion was sober and she didn't like it at all. I'm a huge Greenaway fan so I suspect I'd like it sober (I just haven't seen it lately). What do you think of it? Apparently Gielgud thought it was his definitive performance.

I saw it and was ok with it, but I have a feeling it may not have aged well. Let me know if you watch it again.