Mr. Davies has to have played the best Polonius I have ever seen in any production of Hamlet I've been privy to. I swear, his asides alone were genius. They had me laughing out loud every time. I also appreciated that he didn't make this rendition of Polonius as much of a pushover/comic-boob the way other previous actors have done so before him on film/stage. Well done, sir. Well done, indeed.
shareDavies was really great - not worse than Richard Briers. I thought he did comprise comic relief quite a bit - and I also think Shakespeare meant him to. In fact, I think Polonius should generally be a much more comical character than he is mostly portrayed as in various productions. In fact, I would love to see, just for variety, an entire Hamlet production done as a comedy... :-)
shareThis version did have quite a few moments that made me laugh. It would be difficult to make this into a comedy without making it into a farce. Which I don't think would work.
I'm anaspeptic, frasmotic, even compunctuous to have caused you such pericumbobulations...
Finally saw it and must agree - he was wonderful in the role. Not a buffoon, but at the same time very funny.
shareYep.
shareHe was a fine Polonius.
Bill Murray also did a fine job playing the part in Ethan Hawke's Hamlet about ten years ago. I'm not sure how widely seen it is, but I enjoyed it very much, and it shares some of the stylish touches of this RSC production.
It's a tricky role because if Polonius comes across as a buffoon, one is left wondering why he's the chief advisor to Claudius! (Whatever one might think of Claudius, he isn't stupid and wouldn't hire someone who is.) Davies played Polonius as an old man getting senile, which makes more sense. I agree that his was one of the standout performances of this production.
Patty
He's absolutely perfect. <3 I knew he was Polonius before he even spoke, though my first reaction was: wait, I KNOW THIS GUY! And indeed I do.
It is a bit funny that soon we'll see HIM dying after drinking from a poisoned chalice. Killing the Red Woman, what were you even thinking, dear Maester?
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