Hamlet

I 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

I agree, it really was a play worth seeing. I was lucky enough to get free tickets to see the show from the Drama/Education Expo, and was surprised that there was not more people in the audience. I thought Shirley Welch played a brilliant Gertrude, so alive! and dimensional. David Meadows also played a brilliant Hamlet.

I would recommend it to anyone, with a warning though that it did run a long time, although it went quickly because it was so engaging. My advice would be to take something warm to wear, and a cushion if you have any back problems.

I went to see it Saturday night, and even though it started to rain half-way through, the actors didn't miss a beat. Along with that, every expectation I had for this cast was fulfilled. They were brilliant! I say this as someone who will be the first to admit her lack of knowledge of Shakespeare, but I was riveted the entire time. David Meadows as Hamlet just came alive in the part! The guys who played Claudius and Polonius (sorry guys, forgot to get a program!) were brilliant as well! And now, I could spend the next 5 hours naming each character and saying how brilliant each of them were... instead, I'll just say this: To those don't plan to see Hamlet, CHANGE YOUR PLANS! It is so worth it.

Kate

This really is a great production and I David Meadows Hamlet is as good as it gets.
Also great original lighting/sound effects from Eliot McCann and an excellent job of creating the ghost in Fiona Reid's lighting.
Fine direction and a powerful cast - did it really last three hours? Time flies when it's a wonderful script wonderfully interpreted.

WHAT: Hamlet
WHERE: New Fortune Theatre, University of Western Australia
WHEN: Friday March 8 (and coming soon, March 13-16, 20-23)
WHO: Director Grant Malcolm + a cast of thousands

It was indeed surprising for a Grant Malcolm play, starring David Meadows, Tim Collins and Shirley Welch to have fewer naked arses than expected (and so the tone of the review is set....).

Actually, despite my frequent reviews, it might be worth re-emphasising that I have no vast experience, no formal training, and an opinion that is entirely my own. I am certainly no expert, nor Shakespearean adept.

I enjoyed the show. Despite what anyone may think of David Meadows from his postings, he is certainly a talented actor. I am told he has played Hamlet before, and that he has worked with the Bell Shakespeare Company (though I'm not sure if these instances were one and the same). The hard part (to me) always seems to be the act (if that's the correct word) of delivering the unusual dialogue as though it's the most natural thing in the world. If we're just reciting the lines as written without understanding them, we may as well rote-learn it in Danish or the original Klingon. I felt Meadows did an excellent job. He felt every line. I know of one person in the audience (not me) who initially felt, "Hmmm, I don't know if Meadows is correct for the part," but was made a convert by the curtain.

I've seen a few of the Bard's plays and I always find that it takes my head 5 or 10 minutes to switch over to the foreign language. For me (and I don't think this is unreasonable), I feel that first 5 or 10 minutes needs to be very strong to quickly facilitate the audience's (my) adjustment. This wasn't bad, and the talented Mark Blades certainly helped, but the actors were combatting the sound.

The sound was stunning throughout (as was the set and the costumes). Sublime and eerie, it accentuated the entire production and was never too loud or overbearing. That being said, there were places where some actors needed to project over it. Maybe it was a case of opening night nerves.

The performance kicked into high gear with the appearance of the Great Dane and the rest of the Royal Court. Good work from Fred Lawson and Shirley Welch as Claudius and Gertrude. Collin O'Brien was wonderful as Polonius, emphasising what a busy-body meddling bastard he was. We can excuse the few line flubs, but I would've thought that someone with Collin's oh-so-vast experience could have done better than breathing on stage after Polonius gets the point. I mean, really, where's the dedication? How hard is it to hold your breath for 5 or 6 minutes for your art?

There were quite a few "theatre people" in the audience on opening night. At interval, a friend commented, "That Ophelia's a bit of all right, isn't she!" Yes. Yes she is. Fiona Blakeley (note spelling, Grant) swanned around ladylike (as always :-) ), but was even more effective when mad in Act 2. It's so easy to overdo it, or become a cliche', but her insanity was both spooky and very sad, hightened by effective make up and lighting.

Tony Petani and Eliot McCann were great as a couple of Hamlet's old chums. Their faces spoke volumes when put on the spot by Hammy. I would've loved to see more of these two wacky characters - one senses that they have an entire backstory of their own - but even Shakespeare has to limit his pagecount.

A few others: Adam McGurk's Emphatic Projection put some of the older members to shame. I really liked Dario Della Costa and Andrew Baker in their small, but very clear, roles. Peter Fry was an inspired gravedigger (if there is such a thing), cleverly used by Will and Grant to offset any fatigue half way through Act 2.

However, as well as Meadows, the actor that REALLY stood out for me was Ben Sorgiovanni as Dr Bruce ("Don't make me angry, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry") Banner. Mild-mannered nuclear physicist in Act 1, saying good bye to his Father and Sister while he pops off to France, he returns in Act 2 as half a ton of raging emerald fury to avenge their deaths. My God, could we feel his rage and despair - made even more tragic by its comparison to Act 1's amiability. A flawless performance, well done!

It is a long play (and a long review), but I was very surprised to see how fast the time went. The show never dragged. I did lose concentration just once or twice (my fault) but was quickly re-absorbed in the production. Take Aeroguard. Take cushions. I was very disappointed in the amount of noise coming from the classroom(?) immediately next door (SL). Aren't uni students supposed to go to the pub on Friday nights? But seriously, if GRADS really have to go to so much effort and expense (as it says in the programme) to organise hire of the New Fortune Theatre, couldn't some arrangement be reached that adjoining rooms be unused during performances? The absolute worst part was when the crazy lady (in a black head scarf - if you see her, sit elsewhere) in the row in front of us accused us of making all the noise. It's sad when seeing a great production that one of the prominent memories is of an insane woman abusing your wife.

JB

Some disparate stream of consciousness from a friend in the Sat night audience.

"Did you ever see such a bitchy Gertrude?
Exit, stage left, sneering!
"My God, this wretched kid of mine is
just so bent on ruining everything
he's SO selfish! He doesn't think of
ME!" written all over her face.
Never seen her done like that, it worked
well.


What a sweet Ophelia, so elfin and waif
like, especially in the Ophelia
away with the fairies scene...a solid
Hamlet, no nonsense there, R & G
worked well together indeed, I liked the
earnest, and I don't know how
he did it, likable Polonius.

I've seen him so often played as a
buffoon, usually people are glad when P.
buys it, but the audience were horrified
when he died. They actually
gasped! They did!


When it rained the audience didn't move
straight away, because the actors
had convinced them that it wasn't really
raining.

Thank you to all the cast & crew, great
sets, great production.

I haven't mentioned a lot of stuff that
I should've; like Horatio who
was whippy & alert and every inch the
man, and Guildernstern's coin flipping
and lots of other stuff that deserves
mention.

Ooh, and I like R & G's disintering at
the curtain call. Yes, yes."

Pamela.

PS Wonder if we'll get a review from that bloody peacock from Sunday night....


Thou venomed beetle-headed lewdster!

Well, I saw it too, and I must say for my first ever Shakepeare I actually understood more than just bits of it. (am I truly the only person schooled in Australia who never was forced to study the Bard?) And I've not been frightened away - I may even see another.

I'd like to apologise for not hanging around after and saying hi (I can't believe that in the short time I've lived in Perth I've met so may people in such a large cast) but it ended late and hubby was tired sooo....

Bloody well done!

And a particular thank you must go to the god of storms, the sprinkles of rain were light, the wind lent a great effect, sweeping cloaks in the eerie bits (how the hell did the SM synchronise that?) and adding to the lighting overall.

Short review: Superb! Go see.
Long review available at:

Saw Hamlet last night. Loved it!! David Meadows was awesome. Nuff said.



Thou fawning folly-fallen lout!

Congratulations 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!