Shakespeare's longest play has a long production history. Through waves of different productions of Hamlet, John Caird's 2000 production of Hamlet stands out in particular for its lead actor. This National Theater show, presented at the Littleton Theatre, starred Simon Russell Beale as the title character. In The Guardian, Lyn Gardner writes that Russell Beale had wanted to be in a production of Hamlet for twenty years and when he got his chance, he didn't "blow it". John Caird's elaborate three-and-a-half hour production made a big nod to the religious aspect of the play, particularly with the use of scenery. Although Russell Beale's performance was universally acclaimed, the effectiveness of playing Hamlet as a gentle soul and the consequences of this choice have been debated. John Caird's vision for his production of Hamlet was to give it a "stuffy, religious" atmosphere where "the setting was part cathedral, part castle, part cemetery, part attic" (Bate 202). With the help of set designer Tim Hatley, this goal was achieved. Amy Gamerman of the Wall Street Journal called the whole thing "dismal" and "vacant-looking." The set consisted of luggage, suitcases and old trunks stacked, dismantled and re-stacked in different ways to create different scenes. Presumably, this element of the whole was intended to reinforce the idea of ​​Hamlet's journey of moving from a life without pain to a life charged with the truth of his father's death (Vivier 323). Unfortunately, Kate Levin in Shakespeare Quarterly says that this choice of thematic settings "just didn't fit" with the irregular lighting choices and monotonous Latin chants intended to emphasize the religious aspect of the play (11.... .. middle of paper ......ucson Weekly May 10, 2001. Tucson Weekly October 27, 2013. Google Rocamora, “A Prince Among Men: Rediscovering the Nation” February 1, 2001. Nation Web. October 2013. Google Rogoff, Gordon. “Auden Country and the Search for the Perfect Play.” Theater 32.1 (2002): 48-61. 2003): 322-324 Web. Wolf, Matt. “Two Hamlets Explores New Paths in an Old Terrain.” The New York Times Company. October 27, 2013. Google. (September 11, 2000): 32. Rpt. Michelle Lee. Detroit: Gale, 2005. Internet Resource Center..