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I guess you might think that all I talk about is stuff that has to do with David Tennant. I promise that this is not the case. Mostly. He just happens to be closely connected with things I dearly love. Like the U.K. Science Fiction. Shakespeare. Hotness. I have the same problem with Patrick Stewart for all the same reasons. I'm sure you all know where this is going.

Oh yes, it's Hamlet! As most of you know, the Royal Shakespeare Company sent SciFi/Shakespeare/U.K./Hotness fans into a tizzy a few years ago when they announced that their 2008 production of Hamlet would star David and Patrick in leading roles (Hamlet and Claudius, respectively).  The thought was stunning: The Doctor and Jean Luc Picard together on stage in Shakespeare's home town!  I vividly remember the day I decided that I would see that show and I remember the day that tickets went on sale.  I bought a few of them and 1o months later I took the trip across the pond just so I could witness what promised to be a momentous event in pop culture and live theater history.  I was delighted by the fact that so many folks took the very same trip from all over the world.

Nightsky wrote a great review of the stage production a little while back, so I won't talk much about that.  But I will say that the live performance was astonishing.  I've seen this play performed many times and this particular production was so fresh and lively. The choices made by the director, the actors, and even the set designers were all pivotal and so effective. The whole company worked together so seamlessly under Gregory Doran's brilliant direction that it was easy to forget about the two world-famous actors and just watch as the story unfolded. (However, when David uttered the immortal line, "The time is out of joint: O cursed spite / That ever I was born to set it right!" I had to hold in my gleeful laughter. But I did let out an audible snort when Patrick waved his hand and said imperially, "See that it is so." I couldn't help it!)

You can imagine my joy when the RSC announced that they would film this production for DVD release. Same cast. Same set. Same mood and feel and atmosphere. But this time, everyone would be able to see it. You'd think that I would be most excited about having a copy to watch over and over again (which I will). Actually, much to my surprise, I'm MOST excited that everyone else can finally see the amazing production that I saw. Starting May 4th (that's today!) when the Region 1 DVD is released here in the U.S., I can finally show everyone what I've been talking about for almost two years.

Actually, I can show you now! PBS put the entire production up on their website after they broadcast it in its entirety last Wednesday night as part of the Great Performances series. I stayed up and watched the whole thing, riveted. It was so much fun to see the way they chose to adapt it to film.  Film is so much more intimate than live theater. You can see the actors' faces, when they clench their jaws or make a slight shift of the eyes. I found myself even more engrossed this time through than when I was when seeing it live.

Some things about the film version were jarring at first such as the instances during the soliloquies when the actors clobber the fourth wall by looking directly into the camera. I actually jumped the first time it happened, but I soon got used to it. It's easy to see the attraction of this type of acting on film. Watch David perform the 'To be, or not to be' soliloquy here.  You can see how effective eye contact is in the moments he chooses to use it.

 

There were moments throughout the play when it seemed as if the characters gazed into the camera, through my TV, and right into my soul. I ended up really loving this new facet of the production. I felt included in the story, as if the characters purposefully wanted me to be privy to all of their secretive plans and thoughts -- as if they wanted me to understand (or even condone) their actions.  I for one was delighted to be involved!

Another great choice made in the film production was the use of second-hand visuals like mirrors, security cameras and Hamlet's little hand-held camera. Our point of view shifts often from 'live' to the view through one of the cameras and back again. There were moments that actually made the audience feel like we were spying on the unfolding drama. It was really effective and created a more sinister feeling overall that pervaded the whole production, which I loved. (I also love how we get a snippet of the famous 'Hamlet Video Diaries' a la the Doctor Who DVDs as Tennant performs a soliloquy into his hand-held camera. My fangirl self giggled with glee at the visual parallel.)

However, with these differences taken into account, the filmed production is still almost identical to what I saw on the live stage. The sets are on location, but they look the same. The furniture, the costumes, the blocking...it's all the same. If you didn't get to see the live performance, rest assured that this film version is closer to it than I ever thought possible. 

Along with all of these thoughts about the technical aspects of this version of Hamlet, I can't resist putting down some of my thoughts about the actual performances you'll see in this wonderful production.  They were quite inspiring. 

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Yup.  It appears that Zachary Quinto wants Leonard Nimoy in JJ Abrams' sequel to the series re-boot...which might start filming at the end of this year.  Sweet.  Live long and prosper, guys.

And now, for your Spock-a-licious delectation, here's a double Spock interview:

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Space shuttles are for sale, people.  And as sad as I am that the shuttle program is ending, I'm also curious to see where NASA is going to go with their next program.

Unfortunately, I'm a little short of the $28.8 million price tag as far as my personal funds are concerned.  Wanna split one?

We can keep it in the field behind my house, and the engines are free!  All we need is a few mechanical engineers, and we can start our very own commercial spaceflight business.  Let's give Richard Branson a run for his money. 

Even better, let's actually go through with the plans I gave my university for my degree:  let's equip it with phasers and torpedoes and go build a base on the moon.  

From there, who knows?  I think the grand majority of Cool Space Stuff is going to come from the market at this point instead of from NASA. 

Vulcan, here we come! 

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Last summer, I found myself in an unusual place for a geek: in possession of the season's hot ticket.  Yes, I am referring the RSC's totally sci-fi* Hamlet, with David Tennant as the Melancholy Dane, and Patrick Stewart as King Claudius (and, helmeted and be-bearded, as King Hamlet Sr.). 

The RSC knew a good thing when they had one, and promptly committed it to celluloid.  It's already out on DVD in the UK, and will be shown on PBS sometime during 2010.  This is a good thing, because it's--among its other virtues--a very accessible production, and everyone should totally check it out.

 Read on for my review of the original stage production.  Word has it that the film version is pretty darned similar.

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This article was written in late November, but due to issues around the holiday was not able to be published before the end of the month.Darth Sweetums emerged victorious from NaNoWriMo, and we are proud of her and of all our Chicas who completed that mammoth task. ~ The Management

I am taking a break from my life-consuming NaNoWriMo because I feel it is necessary for this information to be sent out as far as it can reach, so we can get a good mix of opinions on it, and let those with the power know what we, the fans, want.  I also happen to be on my lunch break at work where I cannot work on my NaNo, so there you go.

Generally, I would like to think that I’ve attended many nerdy/geeky things.  I’ve been to the midnight release of the seventh Harry Potter novel wearing a Gryffindor scarf, my HP glasses, and a lightning shaped scar drawn on my forehead.  I’ve been to an Orson Scott Card book signing. (Seriously, the man is simply a brilliant teddy bear.)   On the more extreme side of things, I came from the north west of the United States over to Stratford upon Avon in England to see David Tennant and Patrick Stewart perform Shakespeare’s Hamlet.  (You talk to me, I tell you about it some time. *grin*)

I’ve also gone up to Seattle Washington to see Howard Shore conduct his music (badly) from The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.  Most recently as a birthday present for me, my sister and two friends took me to Star Wars In Concert when they were in Portland last month.  (I LOVE you Anthony Daniels!)  I kept trying to count the lightsabers in the audience.  There were quite a few. 

A couple of weeks ago, I got to talking with Beatrice Blythe about what other franchises should hold a touring concert with music from the movies, the television show, or whatever.  They’ve even done it with Doctor Who in Cardiff a couple of years ago.  So what are we missing?  Hm? 

Star Trek!  That’s what we’re missing!  It dawned on me during my conversation with B.B. that of course, the producers of Star Trek should put on a concert featuring the themes and music from the shows and the films!  I honestly would weep because I was basically brought up on ST, especially The Next Generation.  I’ve seen all the movies, I’ve learned to play some of the themes on the piano, and I wouldn’t even question stalking Brent Spiner if the opportunity presented itself!

A week or so after talking with B.B. about this, she sent me an e-mail with a link saying that someone had apparently read my mind. 

A Star Trek Concert Tour @ Roddenberry.com

The post discusses whether or not a Trek concert tour would attract an audience as the Star Wars concert did, and it is very much on the positive side.  Yes, a concert tour from the Trek universe would definitely attract a large audience!  The themes from the films are so diverse, and unique to the stories –

If you read the article you can see where and why it lost me.  Yes, the films are important.  In some instances the music is the only good thing in a Star Trek film. (Yes, I’m a huge fan, but I’m not delusional.  Oh, Star Trek V!  Why didst thou forsake me?) But I could not believe the author of this article did not even think that the themes from the original television shows should be addressed at such a concert.

Yes, I’d probably be happy with a concert featuring the themes from the films, but what makes Star Trek different is that it started on television first and foremost.  That is where the long time Trekkers came from in the first place.  Who would have understood the full story to The Wrath of Khan or First Contact without the television episodes that spawned those original characters and plot lines?   I rest my case.

A Star Trek concert tour would be phenomenal.  I would be one of the first people in line at the box office.  But, performing the music of Star Trek without the television show themes in there would be a mistake in my opinion.

First, let us hope that there will be a concert tour in the near future.  Hopefully, the thought that the original television show themes being present in the concert’s program will have entered the brains of said producers, because it is such an obvious thing.  Wouldn’t you agree?

Peace and Long Life my fellow fan friends.

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