Over-dull, definitely
Apr. 28th, 2004 12:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
prof_pangaeaIf you can believe it, this production was actually controversial in 1964 for it having the absolute minimum of scenery, props, and set, along with the actors wearing rehearsal clothes (carefully chosen, but still ordinary 1964 clothes).
Gielgud: Well, the first scene didn't really work. I'm sure it disappointed them. And then in the second scene they were staggered by the clothes.
Burton: Well, we suspected it would take them time to get used to the clothes, but last night's audience was particularly unsophisticated.
Gielgud: Or oversophisticated.
Burton: Or over-dull. They didn't know Hamlet at all. Elizabeth told me some of the comments she heard about the play and they're extraordinary! Like the old lady who said, "Isn't it full of quotations?"
Gielgud: Well, the first scene didn't really work. I'm sure it disappointed them. And then in the second scene they were staggered by the clothes.
Burton: Well, we suspected it would take them time to get used to the clothes, but last night's audience was particularly unsophisticated.
Gielgud: Or oversophisticated.
Burton: Or over-dull. They didn't know Hamlet at all. Elizabeth told me some of the comments she heard about the play and they're extraordinary! Like the old lady who said, "Isn't it full of quotations?"
