Hamlet
Sun, 10 Mar 2002, 08:27 amWalter Plinge10 posts in thread
Hamlet
Sun, 10 Mar 2002, 08:27 amI had the privilege of attending Opening night , at The New Fourtune Theatre, of Shakespeare's Hamlet.Amongst the occasional flash of lightning the setting is in the traditional Elizabethan style and is , for want of a better word, outside.
For those of you intending to go, rest assured seating is provided.
For those of you who are not aware, this is being Directed by Grant Malcolm.
I am a fan of Shakespeare and in particular of Hamlet. I was particularly impressed with David Meadows portrayal of Hamlet he certainly is a fine actor.
My only comment in a vaguely negative way would be the interpritation of Gertrude. She is a little harsher/stronger than I am used to.
Apart from a few fumblings with lines that only a Shakespeare buff would have noticed , I believe the performance is certainly well worth seeing.I highly recommend it
Carol Lange
For those of you intending to go, rest assured seating is provided.
For those of you who are not aware, this is being Directed by Grant Malcolm.
I am a fan of Shakespeare and in particular of Hamlet. I was particularly impressed with David Meadows portrayal of Hamlet he certainly is a fine actor.
My only comment in a vaguely negative way would be the interpritation of Gertrude. She is a little harsher/stronger than I am used to.
Apart from a few fumblings with lines that only a Shakespeare buff would have noticed , I believe the performance is certainly well worth seeing.I highly recommend it
Carol Lange
RE: Hamlet
Fri, 22 Mar 2002, 10:47 amCongratulations to Grant Malcolm, this is an excellent production. It was exceptionally cast and directed.
I have heard of the 'legend of the Meddoes' but this was the first time I had ever actually seen him perform. Before I go on, let this be known, Hamlet is my least favourite Shakespeare play of all (except Henry VIII ofcourse, but that doesn't count). In all the productions I have seen (including, to an extent, Branagh's) Hamlet has been little more than a depressed, arrogant boy who talks too much. David Meadows has changed that. His performance was rich and multi-layered, every word ( and there are a lot) held purpose. But above all, my new appreciation for the role came from the wonderful sense of humour and, particularly, irony which David brought to the role. I am left with one question, why on earth is an actor like this still in Perth?!!
Every actor on the stage met Meadows high standard, every character was complete, individual (which would have been difficult for those filling multiple roles, well done Adam and co.) and honest. I have never known Hamlet to be exceptionally funny, but between Eliot and Tony as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Peter Fry's gravedigger, and Meadows as Hamlet my shoulders were shaking for 90% of the show (as was so keenly observed by Guildenstern).
Anyway you get the idea. I'll just mention a few more names, Ben Siorgiovanni as Laertes was wonderfully passionate and very powerful. Fiona Blakeley's Ophelia was beautiful and tragic. Special thanks to Colin O'Brien, that's to difficult men you have helped me to like, Polonius and Dylan Thomas. Fred Lawson and Shirley Welch work perfectly together as Claudius and Gertrude,and it was great to see Gerty with a bit of guts!
If I had to make a critisism ( I know I don't have to, but I will) it would be that it is a shame that the costuming did not quite meet with the standard of the actors (ie: the bloody awful thing Fiona has to wear in the first act) and at some points all those grey suits on stage looked a bit like a wedding party. But again a lot was done with limited means and the set was very effective and well used.
All in all, this is a great show, a credit to Grant, Grads and everyone involved. BRAVO!
- ···
- ···