Eddie Izzard's one-person rendition of 'Hamlet' at American Conservatory Theater showcases her impressive potential in ensemble roles, though it disappoints in delivering a nuanced solo performance. Izzard's comedic style offers a fresh take on characters like Polonius, yet the execution often feels rushed, diminishing Shakespeare's intricate iambic pentameter into a singsong recitation. The performance lacks the expected transformation and skillful character transitions of a seasoned Shakespearean, leaving audiences wanting a more layered exploration of the text's depth and complexity.
Izzard's baseline vibe is like an inside joke that you're invited into, so it's no stretch to see her as a first rate-gravedigger.
Izzard's approach to the text is that of a speeding steamroller, sprinting through pesky monologues till the iambic pentameter sounds as singsong as nursery rhyme recitation.
The implicit promise of solo Shakespeare is that you'll get to see a protean, virtuoso performer morph gracefully from one character to another, devising distinct vocal, facial and physical vocabularies.
Alas, if Izzard has those gifts, they are not in evidence. In the bare-knuckle brawl of 'Hamlet,' she shadowboxes.
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