Playing with the Bard

about being with her when he has a wife he loves and a sick child at home. He tries to stand up for himself and to her, but also seeks her adoration for his writing.

The push and pull between the pair forms the cornerstone of the play.

Around them, the other Hamlet actors are putty in Bernhardt’s hands, inevitably succumbing to Bernhardt’s whims.

With magnificent timbre in his voice, Marco Chiappi is superb as Constant Coquelin, whose command of Hamlet is second to none.

At two hours 10 minutes (excluding interval), I found Bernhardt/Hamlet engaging to a point, but a bit of a stretch. That comes down to Rebeck’s writing – not the fine acting from the 10-strong cast. I thought the first act needed tightening, ahead of the surprises in the second.

production is a man usually adept at doing so, the artist Alphonse Mucha (Tim Walter).

Bernhardt/Hamlet is the story of Sarah Bernhardt – who has grown out of the ingénue roles that made her famous –and Edmond Rostand.

He was the French poet and dramatist best known for his play Cyrano de Bergerac.

Written by American playwright Theresa Rebeck and first performed on Broadway in 2018, there is much going on in Bernardt/Hamlet.

It was most appropriate that opening night was on International Women’s Day.

Make no mistake, Rebeck has crafted Bernhardt as no shrinking violet. Others cower and kowtow in her presence.

She talks up her appeal to men, both artistically and sexually.

Kate Mulvany impresses in the lead. She embraces Bernhardt’s no-nonsense approach – a firecracker … feisty, but also beset by moments of self-doubt.

Mulvany has a big stage presence – a requirement of the bolshy role.

Tracts of Hamlet are performed by Bernhardt and other cast members and often questioned by Bernhardt.

Charles Wu plays an interesting juggling act as Edmond Rostand. He adores Bernhardt, but feels some guilt

An interesting device used by director Anne-Louise Sarks involved sets and props being wheeled and carried in as the play unfolds. That is certainly eyecatching.

Set and costume designer Marg Horwell has done a good job across the board, taking a playful hand with the costuming.

Make no mistake, there is a great deal of humour in Bernhardt/Hamlet, which –I dare say – will be production that will appeal to some more than others.

It is playing at Southbank Theatre, the Sumner until 15th April, 2023.