Discovering Hamlet

If there is an archetypal "plum role" on the stage, then it is certainly that of the Bard's brooding Danish prince Hamlet, which has been previously tackled by such legendary greats as Burbage, Garrick, Booth, Barrymore, Gielgud, Olivier, and Burton. In this documentary, filmed at the Birmingham Repertory Theater, Kenneth Branagh (recently catapulted into the public eye as the star and director of the Oscar-nominated feature film Henry IV) takes on the role for the first time, under the able tutelage of yet another great interpreter of the role: Derek Jacobi. Working under the mind-boggling time schedule of four weeks--from opening day of rehearsals to opening night--the film examines the principals' responses to their roles, and the "fit" between individual understanding of the part and director Jacobi's vision of Hamlet. Writer/director Mark Olshaker has done a fine job of capturing the pressures and peculiarities of life on the boards, and it's interesting to watch the fiery charisma of Branagh, in particular, being molded under the equally fervent Jacobi's guidance. Jacobi, not afraid to tinker with the play, introduces the radical--but effective--idea of Hamlet's famous soliloquy ("To be or not to be") transformed into a monologue directed at Ophelia (which certainly puts a spin on our perceptions of later portions of the play). A good program, likely to be of interest to high school and university libraries, but general patrons may want to take a look as well. Not only is there interest in Branagh, Hamlet is presently very much in the mainstream, with the latest screen interpretation by Mr. Beefcake, Mel Gibson. Recommended. (Available from: PBS Video, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314-1698; 1-800-424-7963.)