The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 19.0105  Monday, 18 February 2008

From:		John Webb <
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Date:		Monday, 18 Feb 2008 08:07:53 -0000
Subject:	The Best Hamlet

Who was the best Hamlet?

This is the question asked in an article in today's Times (18th February).

The article includes the views of the article's author, Benedict 
Nightingale, who has seen some 40 versions. His top 10 Hamlets are: 1 
Simon Russell Beale (2000), 2 Mark Rylance (2000), 3 Jonathan Pryce 
(1980), 4 Kenneth Branagh (1992), 5 Stephen Dillane (1994), 6 Ben 
Kingsley (1976), 7 Ralph Fiennes (1995), 8 Samuel West (2001), 9 Michael 
Pennington (1980), 10 Alex Jennings (1997).

There is also a section near the bottom of the page where several actors 
and directors give their opinions. The actors interviewed include Simon 
Russell Beale, Benedict Nightingale's first choice.

And there is a section at the bottom of the page titled "Have Your Say", 
where readers of the web article can contribute their views.

At the top of the page are some links to video clips on YouTube where 
some performances, by Laurence Olivier (1948), Derek Jacobi (1980), 
Kevin Kline (1990), Kenneth Branagh (1996) and Ethan Hawke (2000), can 
be viewed.

And did you know that more than 50 women have played Hamlet.

The article is here:
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/theatre/article3377750.ece

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