David Tennant, despite being very intense and sometimes exaggerated, makes Hamlet’s character realistic. The mood of the written play, which can seem melodramatic, is compellingly demonstrated in his performance.
The only performance of Hamlet I have seen is the RSC’s production with David Tennant, from 2008 Tennant is known for his intensity of personality, most notably seen in his role as the Tenth Doctor in BBC’s TV series, Doctor Who. Tennant brings this intensity to the stage in Hamlet. While it could be argued that his performance is exaggerated and detracts from the artistic intentions of Shakespeare, I believe Tennant skillfully manifested the intensity and drama that Shakespeare intended.
When reading Hamlet, it is sometimes difficult to appreciate the intensity of emotions that are expressed. The language can seem overdone and so exaggerated it doesn’t seem realistic. One almost can identify with Hamlet’s mother and his uncle in their wonderment at his deep and lingering grief. Is it possible for someone to be so consumed by their sorrow that nothing will bring comfort? To reference Hamlet himself on acting, it can seem like the story is lacking in temperance.
Hamlet’s character can be hard to sympathize with in the text, but Tennant’s performance made him relatable. Rather than dismissing his grief-struck madness, Tennant’s interpretation demonstrated the believability of a character such as Hamlet. His intensity of performance convincingly evidenced Hamlet’s mental instability and obsession with avenging his father’s death. Tennant transformed a story that on the page seems overdone into a performance that explores the depths of human experience and emotions.
