The play presents the rehearsal process of Richard Burton's Broadway Hamlet production, directed by Sir John Gielgud in 1964 - just after Richard had married Elizabeth Taylor. As Gielgud's classical approach meets Burton's modernist interpretation the fireworks fly and the challenge of navigating a path between the two seems impossible. In the end, the production both rejuvenated Gielgud's career and became the most successful Hamlet in New York breaking all box office records.
A large cast and a cleverly used set, pull us into the story almost immediately and, as someone who acts and directs, I felt the agony and ecstasy of the rehearsal room as if I was there. Beautifully presented and acted throughout each character is utterly credible and at no point are we jarred out of this reality be Sam Mendes' beautifully paced direction. Jack Thorne's script cleverly interweaves Hamlet and the characters so that the dialogue and the words from "Uncle Will" reflect on each other and on the situation and people.
Mark Gatiss is superb as Gielgud, masterfully presented both verbally and physically. Johnny Flynn's Burton is equally well presented and his relationship with Tuppence Middleton's Taylor is wonderfully created.
This is a wonderful piece of theatre in which script, direction, set and acting fit so well together that we are totally engrossed throughout. A masterclass.
Filming was mostly unobtrusive though there were a few unnecessary and disturbing close-ups that I would have preferred to do without!
