A production that is part theatre part film and part documentary seems an unlikely project but Alex Hyde-White's Three Days (of Hamlet) has turned out to be inspired. A group of actors coming together to put on a production of Hamlet in three days escaped complete chaos by, what we call in Britain, "Blitz spirit" and sheer talent. Although most of the cast were reading their lines credit must be given to Iva Hasberger who,as Ophelia, had learned her part and was therefore able to perform her descent into madness with abandon! I found myself completely immersed in the characters and Alex's retrospective account of his relationship with his father and also relationship with his own sons. His father's comment that great talent usually skipped a generation and Alex's response that as he has two sons of his own, he hopes it does, I found incredibly moving. But he need not worry, his portrayal of Hamlet was beautiful, so gentle and had me enthralled. Talent didn't skip a generation!! I now feel the need to read the play myself, something I haven't done since seeing Richard Chamberlain play the part 45 years ago at the Birmingham Rep.
