Hamlet January 2009 Novello Theatre

I had been looking forward to this since Summer 2008. Hamlet, a play I studied at school, with one of my absolutely favourite actors - David Tennant.

I first saw David Tennant in 2005 in Look Back in Anger at the Lyceum in Edinburgh. (Hark at me! If it wasn't for Vicky I'd never see the inside of a theatre!) review He was absolutely mesmerising and the way he railed at his life was unforgettable.

When he was announced as Doctor Who a couple of months later I was agog to see how he would play such a well loved character, needless to say he has been amazing, playing the Doctor as a manic, mercurial character.

I was keen to see how he would play the madness of Hamlet, but in the event he was more restrained than I expected. Of course he wouldn't want to play Hamlet as an impression by Doctor Who.

The performance was really enjoyable, the whole cast were top form actors and they complemented each other well. At first I wondered why Patrick Stewart was playing both the ghost and Hamlet's uncle, Claudius, then during the closet scene it dawned on me - of course, they are brothers.

Even the set was amazing, the stage was completely mirrored, and the reflections even reflected off the ornate mirrors in the auditorium. Several times, I glanced to the side, to get an alternative view of the action reflected from the stage to the walls. (I am too used to the editing in films and tv!)

The highlight of the evening was the dumbshow just before the play within a play. the dumbshow king, queen and poisoner were terrific. And Hamlet managed to get a modern take on the "country matters" line, recreating the shock factor of the original pun by inserting a pause in the phrase to bring it bang up to date. (It certainly shocked me!) The gravedigger was marvellous too.

Hamlet may be a tragedy but I enjoyed the laughs!