'Hamlet' at The Young Vic

Last week we went to see the new production of 'Hamlet' with Michael Sheen in the lead role at The Young Vic. 'Hamlet' seems to be an annual event these days, with Jude Law taking the role in 2009 and Rory Kinnear in 2010. It's always interesting to see a new take on the play and we certainly got that.

I was quite intrigued by what I'd heard about the production being set in a hospital, with the audience walking through hospital corridors to get to their seats, people wandering round in hospital uniforms and suchlike. Claudius was king and head doctor handing out prescriptions and tablets, doors were locked at night to keep the patients inside and Polonius was a psychiatrist with a dictaphone to record his interviews. The concept didn't quite work for me and seemed over-laboured, like Ophelia handing out tablets instead of flowers in her final scene. That seemed too contrived.

It also failed for me in the characterisation of Hamlet. I'm in two minds about this since I thought Michael Sheen was excellent in the role and he was clearly giving his all to his impressive performance. Two things in particular didn't work for me: Hamlet seemingly being possessed by the ghost of his father rather than having a separate ghost; and Hamlet was clearly on speed or whiz from the performance whereas if he was in an asylum of some kind he'd be on downers. Any doctor seeing his manic performance would get the prescription pad out and prescribe something more calming. It's not the performances I criticise, it's the concept and delivery. It didn't ring true to me. It reeked of 'student'.

Michael Sheen was excellent, if a bit too manic, as Hamlet. The part I was impressed by was Horatio, played (unusually by a woman) by Hayley Carmichael. She played it very downbeat, very much the old friend - the only friend really - is with Hamlet when he dies and seems to mean it when he says, "Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night, sweet prince; And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest." That touching moment was spoiled by arrogant Fortinbras kicking Hamlet's body into the sand-pit rather that the usual speech of honour.

It was an interesting and worthy experiment but it didn't work for me. Some of the performances were excellent while others seemed to be from student theatre. The concept was interesting but didn't follow through with a solid production. Too much unlikely running about, too many pills, too many bits that didn't ring true. Having said that, I'm pleased I've seen it, another version to add to the collection. 'Hamlet' is a great play with some beautiful poetry and deserves to be on every year. It would be boring if every production was the same...