Tonight I took BART and trekked into the city to see what will likely be my last play of the year, Hamlet at A.C.T. This is the 3rd production of Hamlet I’ve seen this season, maybe 3rd-and-a-half if you count Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. I wouldn’t normally have gone, but this was a chance to see a play at A.C.T., where I’ve never been before, and also I had received an add that had a quote referring to the star, John Douglas Thompson, as “our greatest classical actor.” It’s a bit of a trip, but it was fun to go into the city, which I don’t do enough.
A.C.T.’s Geary Theater is beautiful. I was down in the orchestra section about 5 rows back in the center. The staging was fairly simple but effective. The acting seemed to really emphasize the diction of the language, so some of the story came out clearer. The lead, while a bit older than the typical Hamlet did a very good job. The production didn’t really grab me with any emotion at the end, but overall I liked it. It certainly didn’t bore me even though it’s the 3rd time I’ve seen this story in a few months. I’m glad I made the journey, but I’m ready for a bit of a rest from all the terrific plays I’ve seen this season.
Trailer
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