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Something is rotten in this Hamlet production – and it’s not Benedict Cumberbatch Something is rotten in this Hamlet production – and it’s not Benedict Cumberbatch
(about 20 hours later)
I like celebrity Hamlets. I went to Winnipeg in January 1995 to see Keanu Reeves in the role. And I’m quite keen on that Cumberbatch chap. So I didn’t mind forking out to see him at the Barbican in London.I like celebrity Hamlets. I went to Winnipeg in January 1995 to see Keanu Reeves in the role. And I’m quite keen on that Cumberbatch chap. So I didn’t mind forking out to see him at the Barbican in London.
Related: Cumberbatch fans wait 17 hours for chance of opening-night tickets
The Barbican have been very clever with the tickets for Hamlet. To get your hands on them in the first place, the London arts institution encouraged fans to spend £100 on membership that would give you “enhanced priority booking”. It felt a bit like when a mate stiffs you for their share of the restaurant bill but they do it with such good humour and grace that, just this once, you don’t mind.The Barbican have been very clever with the tickets for Hamlet. To get your hands on them in the first place, the London arts institution encouraged fans to spend £100 on membership that would give you “enhanced priority booking”. It felt a bit like when a mate stiffs you for their share of the restaurant bill but they do it with such good humour and grace that, just this once, you don’t mind.
Related: Cumberbatch fans wait 17 hours for chance of opening-night tickets
I’m starting to lose my patience though. Director John Tiffany’s argument over the weekend that you shouldn’t judge a play until press night had me digging out my tickets. I bought four tickets for 18 August at £85 each, not counting the £100 membership, or the £3 booking fee. Nothing on them indicates they are a preview ticket, and the Barbican website says the production runs from 5 August to 31 October; not 25 August until 31 October with a three-week “preview” period. Maybe I missed the detail in the rush to get to the front of the queue to buy them, and it wouldn’t have made a difference if I had known they were “preview” tickets. But aren’t preview tickets usually, you know, cheap?I’m starting to lose my patience though. Director John Tiffany’s argument over the weekend that you shouldn’t judge a play until press night had me digging out my tickets. I bought four tickets for 18 August at £85 each, not counting the £100 membership, or the £3 booking fee. Nothing on them indicates they are a preview ticket, and the Barbican website says the production runs from 5 August to 31 October; not 25 August until 31 October with a three-week “preview” period. Maybe I missed the detail in the rush to get to the front of the queue to buy them, and it wouldn’t have made a difference if I had known they were “preview” tickets. But aren’t preview tickets usually, you know, cheap?
Equally, I realise that Cumbermania might be hard to manage but fandom is hardly a new phenomenon. The Beatles managed a bit more gracefully than the Barbican seem to be doing. Was it really necessary to write to all ticketholders to say that “the cast won’t be able to sign autographs afterwards and our staff can’t accept deliveries for cast members”? Being a Cumberbitch and a reasonable adult human being aren’t incompatible. We didn’t monster Frankenstein. We weren’t inflamed by Look Back in Anger. We’ve been to the theatre before.Equally, I realise that Cumbermania might be hard to manage but fandom is hardly a new phenomenon. The Beatles managed a bit more gracefully than the Barbican seem to be doing. Was it really necessary to write to all ticketholders to say that “the cast won’t be able to sign autographs afterwards and our staff can’t accept deliveries for cast members”? Being a Cumberbitch and a reasonable adult human being aren’t incompatible. We didn’t monster Frankenstein. We weren’t inflamed by Look Back in Anger. We’ve been to the theatre before.
Treat the fans like reasonable people and they behave like reasonable people. Cumberbatch has done this with aplomb.Treat the fans like reasonable people and they behave like reasonable people. Cumberbatch has done this with aplomb.
I’m only spending three hours on a train and a night in a hotel. But if I had travelled from Tokyo or Toronto I think I would find it rather annoying that the stage door wouldn’t even accept a letter. Would it have been so difficult for the Barbican to have used a few quid to employ a temp to send out a photo with “thank you for your message and I’m sorry I can’t reply to you all individually” printed on the back?I’m only spending three hours on a train and a night in a hotel. But if I had travelled from Tokyo or Toronto I think I would find it rather annoying that the stage door wouldn’t even accept a letter. Would it have been so difficult for the Barbican to have used a few quid to employ a temp to send out a photo with “thank you for your message and I’m sorry I can’t reply to you all individually” printed on the back?
As to cameras in the auditorium, most people know that’s not the done thing. I was an usher in a theatre in the 1970s and we policed such behaviour there and then. Cumberbatch’s stage door plea for people not to film performances was clever in that it used social media to communicate the message, and included in it the clear statement that there was some unspecified “equipment” being brought in that would detect anyone who did it in future and eject them. So I didn’t mind that too much. It’s a reasonable request. Treat the fans like reasonable people and, on the whole, they behave like reasonable people. Benedict Cumberbatch has to date managed to do this with aplomb.As to cameras in the auditorium, most people know that’s not the done thing. I was an usher in a theatre in the 1970s and we policed such behaviour there and then. Cumberbatch’s stage door plea for people not to film performances was clever in that it used social media to communicate the message, and included in it the clear statement that there was some unspecified “equipment” being brought in that would detect anyone who did it in future and eject them. So I didn’t mind that too much. It’s a reasonable request. Treat the fans like reasonable people and, on the whole, they behave like reasonable people. Benedict Cumberbatch has to date managed to do this with aplomb.
The Barbican, however? Given that they’ve taken shedloads of my money, I want to be welcomed as a valued customer, not policed like a member of a mob of unruly schoolkids. Telling me I can’t have an autograph, a selfie or a sneaky pic of the set isn’t going to be made any better by the news that there’s a pop-up Hamlet shop where you can try and part me from more cash.The Barbican, however? Given that they’ve taken shedloads of my money, I want to be welcomed as a valued customer, not policed like a member of a mob of unruly schoolkids. Telling me I can’t have an autograph, a selfie or a sneaky pic of the set isn’t going to be made any better by the news that there’s a pop-up Hamlet shop where you can try and part me from more cash.
Let’s just pretend that this is any other night at the theatre. I’ll watch and listen, you smile and thank me for coming. Because otherwise this 59-year-old Cumberbitch’s goodwill might melt, thaw and resolve itself into a dew.Let’s just pretend that this is any other night at the theatre. I’ll watch and listen, you smile and thank me for coming. Because otherwise this 59-year-old Cumberbitch’s goodwill might melt, thaw and resolve itself into a dew.