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smallhobbitWhen my friend said she was going up to Stratford to see Hamlet I thought it would be a nice idea to join her and her friend. It wasn't a performance I would have gone to see by myself, and it turned out I was very pleased I'd decided to do go.
Spoilers for the current RSC version of Hamlet (and of the play itself, but I am assuming this won't concern the majority of my flist).
First up, most of the cast are black, Horatio is Indian/south Asian, and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are embarrassing white visitors - when they arrive they give the queen a red telephone box teapot as a present. The play is set in modern times, Claudius wears what might be thought of as African dictator military uniform at the beginning, but to me it was still Denmark - a different Denmark but believable.
Hamlet is played by Paapa Essiedu, he was good, but not the most memorable Hamlet I've seen. It's always interesting seeing how the actor is portraying Hamlet - mad, conniving, or a combination of both. This time he comes over as less complicated than in some other productions I've seen.
The Polonius/Laertes/Ophelia household is played beautifully. With a more modern setting the family dynamic works well. Laertes and Ophelia spar as brothers and sisters do, Polonius is a fussy old man but in the "Oh, Dad!" with genuine affection, for he clearly cares for both his children. Ophelia's madness is horrifying - she pulls clumps of her hair out and gives it to her watchers in the "Here's rosemary, that's for remembrance speech". For the first time Laertes is overcome with emotion at the death of his sister - in what, for me, was a very poignant scene.
As ever at an RSC production the music was excellent. A lot of drumming and African style music which fitted well. Every time Claudius appeared, no longer in uniform, he wore a different brightly coloured shirt, although I felt Gertrude deserved a greater change of dresses - unless she particularly favoured bright pink.
It was an enjoyable play, but not one I'd recommend for a first time seeing Hamlet, being a little too far from the original. As an variation it was well worth going to. And before and after the three of us discussed plays in general, which was great.
Spoilers for the current RSC version of Hamlet (and of the play itself, but I am assuming this won't concern the majority of my flist).
First up, most of the cast are black, Horatio is Indian/south Asian, and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are embarrassing white visitors - when they arrive they give the queen a red telephone box teapot as a present. The play is set in modern times, Claudius wears what might be thought of as African dictator military uniform at the beginning, but to me it was still Denmark - a different Denmark but believable.
Hamlet is played by Paapa Essiedu, he was good, but not the most memorable Hamlet I've seen. It's always interesting seeing how the actor is portraying Hamlet - mad, conniving, or a combination of both. This time he comes over as less complicated than in some other productions I've seen.
The Polonius/Laertes/Ophelia household is played beautifully. With a more modern setting the family dynamic works well. Laertes and Ophelia spar as brothers and sisters do, Polonius is a fussy old man but in the "Oh, Dad!" with genuine affection, for he clearly cares for both his children. Ophelia's madness is horrifying - she pulls clumps of her hair out and gives it to her watchers in the "Here's rosemary, that's for remembrance speech". For the first time Laertes is overcome with emotion at the death of his sister - in what, for me, was a very poignant scene.
As ever at an RSC production the music was excellent. A lot of drumming and African style music which fitted well. Every time Claudius appeared, no longer in uniform, he wore a different brightly coloured shirt, although I felt Gertrude deserved a greater change of dresses - unless she particularly favoured bright pink.
It was an enjoyable play, but not one I'd recommend for a first time seeing Hamlet, being a little too far from the original. As an variation it was well worth going to. And before and after the three of us discussed plays in general, which was great.
