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Joe as Hamlet = Mr Incredibly Superbly Fantasticness
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Yesterday, 6 of us met at Stafford Castle to see Joseph as Hamlet. We had all seen him on stage at least once before (and a few of us more than once...) so were excited knowing that we were in for a fantastic treat. We were not disappointed.
Joseph on stage was just incredible. He completely and utterly holds the audience everytime he sets foot on stage. His ability to speak Shakesperian verse is amazing, you can understand every word he says. And he is funny...very funny.
Flip from the forum summed up her (and our) thoughts rather eloquently after the show...
Flip from the forum summed up her (and our) thoughts rather eloquently after the show...
"Joe as Hamlet = Mr Incredibly Superbly Fantasticness. I am, as ever, in awe of the man's talent [and tummy!]"
The weather didnt look promising yesterday afternoon, but the rain just about held off so that we were able to fully enjoy this wonderful, energetic production. We passed the *actor / musicians* who would be in the play later, as they entertained theatre goers trudging up the steep hill to the castle, before the show started. Those requiring the green minivan transport to the top may have missed this treat, but got their own special mention later from Joseph as Hamlet during the play, much to the audience's amusement.
For me several cast members stood out during the production yesterday, particularly Fergus O'Donnell as Horatio and Christopher Saul both as Polonius and as the First Grave Digger. Mainly because their ability to speak the language with such a natural air while bringing warmth to their characters, meant that it became easy for the audience to understand them. Vincent Brimble as Hamlet's dead father provided a chilling, commanding ghost.
Joseph Millson was outstanding, as an athletic, quick witted, yet sensitive Hamlet. A particularly memorable scene was the *to be or not to be* speech. High on the *Elsinore* battlements, his delivery was mesmerising and the image a memorable one. There must be photographs of it somewhere surely (please...).
Audience inclusion came as Hamlet was sat cross legged on a table, considering that villainous audience members would give away their guilt when confronted with watching a replication of their actions in a play. While saying that, Joseph started turning round slowly, raising one eyebrow while looking at audience members in one of the stands. Everyone fell about laughing but he just made it seem so completely natural.
If there was any possibility to drag the humour from a scene then Joseph made the most of it. I am still giggling at the image of Hamlet dragging Polonius's body across the battlements in a sack...calling him the fattest b*****d and being very droll as he dumped him in a corner.
I must add that if anyone sits in stand C they will get up close with Hamlet a few times! We were close in Stand B but it was set out as a thrust stage, in that all stands have an equal view and all the actors make full use of the stage...but stand C had more fun...
I only had one gripe...and I really should let it go...but the soldiers berets.... 
I think only 2 or 3 wore them remotely correctly. I read that the Gurkhas had taught the actors about soldiering...they will be horrified at the berets. Flip kindly held me back in my seat when I was about to spontaneously combust with the urge to leap off the stand and fix one or two.
I think only 2 or 3 wore them remotely correctly. I read that the Gurkhas had taught the actors about soldiering...they will be horrified at the berets. Flip kindly held me back in my seat when I was about to spontaneously combust with the urge to leap off the stand and fix one or two.
The trouble with military or ex-military types like myself, is that such things detract from the ability to concentrate on the play. If the over all impression was to be of a ragtag, misfit incompetant army, then it suceeded and then some. To be fair they did get the difference between an officer's salute and a soldiers one correct...there...I am letting it go now! And the mix and match uniforms didnt bother me at all...
Do see this play before it closes. It is a totally wonderful experience.
Lovely photo of Kellie Shirley and Joseph, by Robert Day thanks to Justine at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre.
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Review by Tormented Space (from the forum)
Right so a review. Hmmm. Let's think...
The afternoon of Saturday 5th July was an afternoon of mixed weather at Stafford Castle; we had sun, cloud, rain and wind. And this seemed to perfectly reflect the many moods of Joseph Millson's Hamlet.
He was the prince, the soldier, the scholar but more importantly he was funny, charming and engaging. Oh and did I mention athletic? Climbing up and down the ladders up to the battlements with ease, and at one point soliloquising while hanging from a bar several feet above the main stage!
Moments I particularly enjoyed included: the allusion to the green mini-van on the hill, Hamlet acting mad for Polonius’s benefit, “to be or not to be” on the battlements, Hamlet’s “Oops” on discovering he’d killed Polonius by mistake and the ensuing chase around the castle, and the sword fight at the end “I have been in continual practice” – cue look at Horatio/the audience implying this was completely untrue. There are too many to list all the good bits!
The interpretation of the play worked well. We knew when Hamlet was feigning madness and we knew when he wasn't. We could see his internal struggles and subtle reminders that even when he wasn't 'acting' mad, he wasn't without his demons.
The fact the Players acted out their play without speaking really kept the plot moving at that point and didn’t allow the audience any distraction from Hamlet’s plan.
I thought that Vincent Brimble made a stately and suitably scary ghost, Fergus O’Donnell a friendly, relaxed Horatio, and Christopher Saul an amusing Polonius.
So I spent a very enjoyable afternoon in Stafford with Hamlet and co.
I didn't expect to laugh so much during a play which ends with almost everyone dead!
Superb Hamlet
Hamlet is a play that I know well and I've seen many different Hamlets, but Joseph Millson is by far the best Hamlet I have seen to date. He manages to capture Hamlet in all his different states; feigned madness, real madness and when he is hovering between the different states. He superbly captures both the comic and the tragic and expertly delivers Shakespearean prose and verse. Millson's Hamlet dominated the stage with his athleticism and his projection of a tormented soul on the edge of an abyss. I would urge anyone who has the chance to catch this play and watch a master at work.