A very solid production, though not outstanding. (Last season's "Richard III", also starring Ewen Leslie, was better, for mine.) This Hamlet is clearly sane throughout, if given to outbursts of anger and anguish - a far more satisfying reading than Bell's from a couple of years back - and Leslie's performance is strong, while the supporting cast is slightly uneven, but generally fine; I thought more attention could have been given to the delivery of lines, which sometimes seemed a little overly rote/conversational, with not enough attention to the language itself. Fortinbras is omitted, some care is given to Ophelia's character, the production's choices make sense of Horatio's uncomplaining loyalty, Gertrude, Claudius, Polonius are all largely as one might expect.
(w/ C)
