17 posts tagged “david tennant”

About nappy coats in Dr Who and future projects including a pilot for NBC in LA

It seems David Tennant also thinks he is too tall to play a Hobbit also according to this story and no-one has even approached him about playing Bilbo in Guillermo del Toro's film.
My money's still on McAvoy or is it wishful thinking?

Despite my initial reservations about Jude Law playing Hamlet, I was actually quite excited by the time Tuesday arrived. So I settled in my front row seat (benefits of booking 18 months in advance) with Jen to one side and Spike's empty seat to the other* and it was show time.
And Law didn't disappoint. He played his Hamlet with an anger that had veins pulsating in his neck, sweat pouring down his brow and spit flying from his mouth (the one disadvantage of being on the front row when he is delivering a soliloquy at the front of the stage).

His manic hand gesturing was a little too much at times but you can't fault him on clarity of delivery which is an achievement when some speeches can easily become incomprehensible rants. It was a moving performance especially when on a couple of occasions our eye-line matched and it was as if he talking just to me (I'm sure the actors see very little of the audience once the stage is lit up but it still feels good.)
And the rest of the production? Well Penelope Wilton nailed Getrude, Ron Cook as Polonius didn't milk the comedy in his part enough (although that may be partly down to cuts in his speeches) something the RSC did very well and Ophelia, played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw was the weakest link. Just didn't connect with the character at all. She was too sensible and straight in the first half to make her descent into madness in the second half believable. She has a beautiful sweet singing voice but I don't think that really suited someone who's properly lost their marbles.
There weren't as many theatricals in the production as the RSC's (cracking mirrors, playing king being hoisted up ghost like into the ceiling etc), the set of towering stone castle walls with huge sliding doors gave the stage a suitably cold and bleak feel and there was a shower of snow in one scene so convincing it made me shiver.
Michael Grandage, who directed, has trimmed the script back to make it shorter which I don't object to as I think Hamlet can be a little long.
But what is my verdict, Tennant/RSC or Law/Donmar? Sorry Law you were much, much better than I expected and very enjoyable to watch but I didn't come out of the theatre thinking I'd just seen something historic like Tennants.

And what did the pro's think?

Daily Telegraph: "Law...joins the modern pantheon of spellbinding sweet princes with a performance of rare vulnerability and emotional openness."
Guardian: "Law doesn't have the sardonic wit of David Tennant, or the philosophical fluency of Jamie Ballard in Jonathan Miller's recent Tobacco Factory production, but he makes a Hamlet who truly discovers himself."
West End Whingers: "The Whingers also found themselves getting very sad about their inability carry off a cardigan which Jude Law can do depressingly well." 

*Spike got stuck up in York where he'd been for work and because he had his ticket with him the box office couldn't resell it, which was frustrating not because of the money lost but because there was a long queue of people desperate for returns and it was such a good seat to waste. Fortunately a chap who'd been sitting somewhere up in the gods spotted the empty seat during the first half and snuck down during the interval and asked if he could take it. Jen and I were glad to oblige.:"

Peter Jackson is denying rumours that he will be announcing who will play Bilbo in The Hobbit at Comic-Con but what is interesting is who is in supposedly in the running: Daniel Radcliffe, David Tennant and James McAvoy.
If it was up to me to choose from this trio this is how I'd rate them:

4/10 David Tennant
(BBC's Dr Who and my favourite Hamlet so far) Too tall and willowy for a Hobbit and I'm not sure he'd pull off the down to earthy, nature loving character that is inherent in a Hobbit.

7/10 Daniel Radcliffe
(Harry Potter and stage stripper) Well he is the right height (sorry that is a bit mean especially coming from someone who is also economically sized) but I think still a bit young. Mind you he's got dragon experience.

9/10 James McAvoy
(Atonement, Wanted etc) Nigh on perfect I'd say. He's not too tall and has the right build for a Hobbit. Think he's a good age to play Bilbo and I know I've said him before but I loved him as Mr Tumnus so he has fantasy genre experience.

Others I think should be considered are: Jim Sturgess although he is quite tall but has a face that I think would work as a Hobbit, Emile Hirsch is small of stature although I think he looks a little more elf-like. And finally Gael Garcia Bernal would be my wild card - think he would make a great Bilbo with a hint of latin energy. He's also short.

And funnily Entertainmentment Weekly has picked up on exactly the same issues. In their pole James McAvoy is coming out way ahead of the other two.

 

Back in August Jenny and I were not only lucky enough to get to see David Tennant  play Hamlet at Stratford but somehow managed to get front row seats. It was an amazing experience and one we'll never forget and still high on the spectacle the next day we returned to the theatre to buy souvenir posters.
But that wasn't quite enough. I'm afraid we were overcome by a teenage-esque surge of obsession.
I did a bit of research on the internet, found the details of Tennant's agent and following the instructions to include an SAE or cardboard tube in this case, sent both posters off with a short note in the hope that they would get signed but requesting they were returned regardless. The agents website makes no guarantees except that it may take many months.
Well the posters went off in September and I'd all but forgotten about it until, hey presto, two days ago a cardboard tube arrives back.
With bated breath I unfurled the posters inside to see if Tennant had indeed put black marker to paper and he had - not the most crafted signature but each was personalised nonetheless. I can just imagine him locked in a room with a stack of pictures and posters to sign, slowly getting cramp in his hand. It's a tough life being famous but hey ho, he did it and so that is why David Tennant is currently my favourite actor.
Now I just need to get it framed and put up in a place where it won't fade but just slowly increase in (sentimental) value.

I've already tweeted about the fact that there are plans to reprise the RSC's Hamlet with David Tennant and Patrick Stewart one more time but this time it will be filmed.
From this story it looks like they aren't going to film it straight as it was performed which is a shame but anything is better than nothing. They will never be able to recreate the atmosphere of seeing it performed live but at least it will be a great reminder and Jen and I can say 'we were there on the front row'.
Wonder if you can pre-order on play.com yet?

The actor who will replace David Tennant as Dr Who is going to be announced during a program which starts in half an hour. A story today in the Telegraph mentions lots of names including Ben Whishaw.
It would certainly be interesting and I'd definitely watch it but if he is chosen I will phone my Mum twice a week for the rest of the year.
He always looks really uncomfortable being interviewed and is reported as saying he could quite happily leave all the promotional work to one side. Not the sort of person who's going to be comfortable with being probably what is the most popular TV character currently on British telly.

PS Has been announced and there was a moment when I genuinely thought there might be a chance when they said the new Dr Who was going to be young. Then they said he was 26, two years young that Mr Whishaw so I knew it was safe to carry on watching. The new Dr Who is Matt Smith. No I haven't heard of him either.

Went to see Hamlet with David Tennant and Patrick Stewart for the second time last night. It has transferred to London from Stratford for a couple of months.
It was just as good as I remember it despite being disturbed by latecomers for the first 15 minutes. (They should be made to stand at the back until the interval if they can't be arsed to arrive on time. Or quietly shot)
However there was one other incident that irked me and ruffled anglo-american relations. In the traditional queue for the loos during the interval an American lady who was next to me struck up conversation by asking what I thought of the play so far. I told her I thought it was very good, to which she replied:

So then I pointed out politely that she had just insulted our best and most loved playwright but that I wouldn't hold it against her. She thanked me for this obviously not quite understanding what I actually meant was:
"I'm taking you outside now and throwing you to all the people who couldn't get tickets."
 

This story is all over the web today and I actually think it's quite cool. Pianist Andre Tchaikowski, when he died in 1982, left his body to medical science with the proviso that his skull be given to the Royal Shakespeare Company for theatrical performances.
It had only been used in rehearsals up until the summer when it made it's stage debut in the Yorick scene in Hamlet, naturally. But what a brilliant way to be remembered and to know that part of you would be going on stage, in one of the most well known scenes in Shakespeare with probably some of the best actors. It also made me think about other ways you could bequeath yourself.
Here's a picture of David Tennant with the skull and to think Jen and I were only a three feet away from it in the summer...

AKA Vasquez has said it all about this Ross/Brand debacle here. So I'll turn my attention to who is going to be the new Dr Who now that David Tennant has finally admitted he will be leaving the Tardis behind after a filming a clutch of specials.

First am not surprised he's decided to go as any sensible and talented actor would have done the same. But who will be the next Who? I can't be bothered with the serious debate so here are my fantasy Dr Who's:

Graham Norton (suggested by Wapping Psycho on my Twitter thing and a bloomin' good suggestion)
Justin Lee Collins (we need more hair in the Tardis)
Jennifer Saunders (I loved to see her 'pretending' to work the controls in the Tardis)
Grace Jones (because she's mental and she could lend some of her clothes for alien costumes thus saving the BBC money)
George Clooney (no really I believe he'd bring a lot to the role, ahem)
Russel Brand (no really because he wouldn't even have to visit wardrobe or make up department but about as likely as me winning the lottery jackpot)

Any other suggestions?