That's big of him. Maybe some day some Christian director will go wild and stage Hamlet as if it took place in 16th Century England. That would be daring.
Maybe some day some Christian director will go wild and stage Hamlet as if it took place in 16th Century England. That would be daring.
Well, if you're referring to the original context, it was set in Denmark and only written in 17th century England.
The genius of Shakespeare is that he speaks to all cultures. Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet was set in the 19th Century, and didn't suffer at all for having been moved by 200 years.
I don't see any problem with this production. If you don't like it, there are plenty of productions in a more traditional setting (including some in "Original Pronunciation," a revival of the dialect Shakespeare and the other actors actually used on stage). More than enough for everybody.
If you're one of those who insist that the plays always be done in their original context and costume, why? Shakespeare didn't do that. He updated his stories to what was then modern dress. Unless you think they had doublets in the first century BC....