Fans of film, BBC’s “Sherlock”, theater, “The Imitation Game”, and Shakespeare alike, hold on to your deerstalkers! On Sunday, January 17th at 7:00 pm, the Michigan Theater screen will feature Benedict Cumberbatch in an encore showing of the National Theater Live: Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”.
This production stars the Academy Award nominee Benedict Cumberbatch as Hamlet and is directed by Lyndsey Turner. The show opened in August 2015 in London and ran through October 2015. Lyn Gradner of the Guardian said in an October 2015 review that this was the “fast-est selling show in London theatre history”. In a New York Times review of “Hamlet”, Ben Brantley commended the show on being “full of scenic spectacle and conceptual tweaks and quirks” (August 2015). Brantley also expressed irritation, though, over some performance and directorial choices that seemed to serve no purpose in furthering the plot. Since the show’s previews there have been many similar conversations about the contrast in the production’s beauty and its different (and possibly strange) interpretation.
I for one can’t wait to see the show and decide for myself! I am a huge fan of BBC’s “Sherlock”, which also stars Benedict Cumberbatch, and will thoroughly enjoy watching one of my favorite actors tackling such a prestigious role. If you’re looking for a fun weekend event, this screening of a live performance of “Hamlet” is something you won’t want to miss.
Tickets are $12 for students (and selling fast) and $22 for adults. Run time is 3 hours and 20 minutes.
