In Hamlet/Horatio, director Paul Warner and writer David Vando put a new twist on Shakepeare’s Hamlet. Warner and Vando gives us a Hamlet from the point of view of Hamlet’s bestie Horatio (Themo Melikidze), as he fulfills his promise to retell the tragic fate of his friend. That means that it’s not from Hamlet’s the internal point of view of Hamlet himself (Andrew Burdette), as he simmers in inner turmoil.
The result is almost soliloquy-free, and many famous lines are not spoken. This is decidedly NOT a Cliff Notes version; Warner and Vando have intentionally left out some stuff that WILL be on the test.
Hamlet is generally thought of as a character-driven story about Hamlet’s angst and indecision. We all know that Hamlet has good reason to be depressed and angry at his father’s death and the usurpation by his uncle. By focusing on Horatio’s retelling of his friend’s story, the spotlight is on the external plot – how Hamlet was wronged by treachery, seeks redress, and how, tragically, almost everyone winds up dead.
Hamlet is not my favorite Shakespeare play because I’m generally ambivalent to Hamlet wringing his hands for two or three hours. Still, I missed that aspect in Hamlet/Horatio. Hamlet/Horatio does succeed with the Closet scene and the Gravedigger scene; both are exceptionally good. Does Hamlet need a refreshing? Why, sure. Kenneth Branagh’s fine 1996 unabridged movie version had a running time of four hours, two minutes, and IMO that’s just too long for a movie. And, as Warner points out, it’s not the most accessible play for a modern audience. In contrast to Branagh’s and other movie versions, Hamlet/Horatio is a remarkably crisp 101 minutes.
Joe Menino plays Polonius as ridiculously devoid of self-awareness, but without the usual broad comedy. Menino’s performance is very effective and still funny. Just because Polonius never recognizes that he is a pompous blowhard, you don’t need to play him as Foghorn Leghorn. The actors Anna Maria Cianciulli, as Gertrude, and Wayne Stephens, as Laertes, are very good.
Yesterday, I published my own list of Best Shakespeare Movies. Hamlet/Horatio will be available to stream on June 1.