Just Press Play, 10 March 2011
By Rachel Kolb

In 'Discovering Hamlet', viewers get a look behind the scenes at the Renaissance Theatre Company's 1988 production of 'Hamlet'. Their staging of 'Hamlet' was a truly remarkable moment in modern theater history. Derek Jacobi was considered to be the premiere Hamlet of his generation, and he is directing a young Kenneth Branagh in the lead role. Together, Jacobi and Branagh struggle to find their unique interpretation of the work, and the company moves quickly through blocking, rehearsals, and technical run-throughs. Did I mention the film is narrated by Patrick Stewart? Oh yes, Jean-Luc Picard himself walks us through the ins and outs of this incredible production.

There is a lot for theater enthusiasts to love about 'Discovering Hamle't. First, they get the chance to see the creative process of two acclaimed Shakespearean actors. Now, Branagh is an Oscar-nominated thespian and director, but back then, he was just an up-and-coming young actor with much talent and drive. Throughout the documentary, Jacobi helps Branagh refine his ability while keeping his ego in check. During a round of notes, Jacobi reminds Branagh to respond to his fellow actors and not to act inside a bubble. Watching Jacobi and Branagh work together, it shatters the often repeated notion that actors get paid the big bucks just to wear costumes and read lines. In reality, stage actors think through every scene, weigh the importance of their line, and find new ways to look at a play that anyone who survived high school English class knows.

Another element of the film that thespians will appreciate are the interviews with the show's costume designer and set designer. The interviews combined with footage from the tech and costume rehearsals show how the production designers need to work with the director to come up with a combined vision. As the costume designer explains in her interview, sometimes that vision changes as the show progresses, and adjustments need to be made accordingly. Aspiring production designers can watch this documentary and see how the professionals do it in the real world.

What is really remarkable about 'Discovering Hamlet', however, is how it was a precursor for Branagh making Shakespeare appealing to the masses again. Before Branagh, young people usually thought of Shakespeare as stuffy, overly wordy, and irrelevant to today's culture. His film versions of 'Henry V', 'Much Ado About Nothing', 'Hamlet', and 'Othello' brought new life to Shakespeare's famous works. Before all of those films, Branagh had the Renaissance Theatre Company. He used it to experiment with Shakespeare's work through his productions of 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'Twelfth Night'. 'Hamlet' records where it all began for Branagh.

I think the people who will get the most out of 'Discovering Hamlet' are theater students, Shakespeare fans, and people interested in the acting process. If you don't fall into any of these categories, 'Discovering Hamlet' might not sound like a good time to you, but once again, keep in mind that Patrick Stewart narrated the film. Stewart is like Morgan Freeman or James Earl Jones. He can make intellectual discussions about acting method seem, well, pretty epic.

By the way, 'Discovering Hamlet' and David Tennant's 'Hamlet' make a great double-feature. Plus, you get a double-dose of Stewart since he plays Hamlet's uncle in Tennant's Hamlet.

SPECIAL FEATURES
Special features include extended interviews with director Derek Jacobi, more cast and crew interviews, cast biographies, and a 12-page guide to the production including reviews of the show and a profile of the Renaissance Theatre Company.