I Hate Hamlet - a Review
Wed, 11 Sept 2002, 07:23 amWalter Plinge1 post in thread
I Hate Hamlet - a Review
Wed, 11 Sept 2002, 07:23 amI Hate Hamlet yet another stream of consciousness review by Alicia Smith
(c) 2002 Alicia Smith
I Hate Hamlet opened on Thursday the 5th of September. I was there.
So was Rob.
Unfortunately not many other people were. Well where-ever they were,
they ALL MISSED OUT! Because what a fine performance the cast and crew gave!
We were all privileged to be part of the audience.
I wanted to give a coherent (no really) (( yes,yes, I know it's *me* but
look you can imagine, can't you?)) review of this fine production,
so I actually took a notebook with me this time. And a pen.
Because I knew there would be a science fiction convention between me
seeing the play and getting to write about it, so let me just grab my
notes.
*Right*
The first thing that really lept out at me was the complex bevy of lighting
and sound effect brilliance that really sharpened the play, it was a
wonderful score of sound and lighting. Very challenging too, I should
imagine, what a forest of cues the backstage and cast must've been going through.
But they did it and it was brilliance, it sang, not one mistake amongst the lot. Telephone voices, offstage smashing lamps, doorbells, lightning,
spectral appearances, the audience was riveted.
( bored male voice "Clever of you to think of it." *shut up!*)
I liked especially the papers all shoved under the apartment door; it
spoke wonderfully of the unoccupancy, if they aren't careful this
place will show up as what not to do on a Neighbourhood Watch ad. "Rob Me"
The entire seance scene was amazing, lightning, lighting changes, blackouts and a brief spectral image. Wooooh. It was very smartly done.
I'll try to describe the set, but really, it is like suddenly Grads got
a Playhouse or Octagon style budget to play with. In the first act the place is covered with drop cloths, the apartment has been unlived in but some of the oppulence bleeds through, and then when the covers come off - well! A lot of hard work has gone into this set and it should be appreciated.
(Sound, set, props, lighting, effects & all backstage heroes, you done good. Thank you.)
The entire audience gasped and murmured when the curtain came up
on the revealed set. (this was when they weren't laughing at the Ghost's antics on the stage with the *ahem* "World Globe". Don't ask, it has to be seen.)
Now to the acting. In so many cases, with such an opulent set the
actors would be mere cutouts. Not so in this case.
Take Jeff Watkins as the haunted Hamlet don'twannabe, Andrew Rally.
His gentle American soapstar accent stapled neatly to him and
never slipping (as indeed did all of the cast's accents remained
impeccably pinned to their lips, never seen such a convincing lot)
he engenders our sympathies with his torn plight.
And watch him during the amazing Hamlet "cool school"
soliliquy ala Tom Lehrer's cool school "Clementine"
Very funny.
He is Hamlet really, the frustration, the nympho virgin girlfriend and all.
I've just realised, this play could be called Attack of the Archetypes,
there's enough material there for a Jungian convention.
Barrymore the suave, charming, seductive, witty, debonair and dissipated
actor. I can't say enough to praise Kim Martin's portrayal, he really
was very good. The way he walked, the way he talked, the way he insinuated
himself. The audience was charmed but quite aware that here was a very
naughty fellow, but we loved him all the same.
The duel! The duel! Andrew forced into it at first, clumsy, not wanting to,
Barrymore driving him into it, up and down the stairs, the lunge, the
clumsy parry, the desperation, the choreography and suddenly the audience
realise MY GOD! We're seeing the famous Princess Bride duel as Andrew, driven
to skills beyond those he has as he, and the living impaired Barrymore, duel it
out!
Jeff Watkins choreographed it too, and it is the most impressive
stage duel I have ever seen.
These two are a joy to watch on stage as they strive with and against each
other, with rapier like wit and wit like rapiers!
The script sings as well, the wit spicy and sharp, the delivery perfect.
Well done everyone.
Gary played by Matthew B Kiely is the self confessed self absorbed director
or is it producer of Andrew's defunct soapie. So shallow you could wade in
him and not have to worry about drying your ankles off afterwoulds, he
is a study in, well, himself. He tempts our hero with money, with soap,
with...more money. I mean it's money...lots of money, he just can't see
why on Earth Andrew would even consider doing Hamlet, for free, in the
park...instead of fame and money.
At first the audience is inclined to not take Gary terribly seriously,
but Matthew's portrayal of him is such that we are taken to the very
core of his being and we are actually beguiled into a sympathy with his
bewilderment at what has possessed his famous soap actor.
We understand him, and we understand Andrew too. Gary is played
humorously and with all the restraint required by his character, :-)
The audience likes Gary in spite of itself.
Angela Trevithik-Webb played Andrew's virginal nymphomaniac girlfriend,Diedre
an Ophelia just looking for the *right* pond...she was wonderful, a little bit
flaky, a little bit wise, a little too sensitive, and a little too...much.
A scary character really. She had...a....miasma. It's a wonder
that Andrew wasn't (more) demented from too much contact with her. It was
well done.
Felicia Dantine, played by the amazingly costumed Aletia K Artemis had
an accent that pulled us welcomingly down to earth and as with everyone
was held impeccably throughout the entire performance. Wearing her
costume with flare and insisting on our attention every minute she was
on stage with her colour, amazing use of gesture and outrageous accent
we like her too! Excellent performance.
Andrew's aging German agent Lilian Troy is played
with sensitivity, strength, grace, and sheer style by Dale James.
Picking her way through other people's conversations, with the grace
and disdain of a Siamese cat picking her way over a puddled
footpath she has some wonderful, spiky,
lines."Don't talk to *me* about great ideas! I'm German!"
Lilian's final scene is something that should not be missed for
the sensitivity and the gentleness of the conversation and events leading
up to it. Very well done folks, especially the lighting crew.
The fire, the candles. It was beautiful.
A fine performance by cast and crew.
What, you think I'm just saying that?
I'm going again on Wednesday night, I liked it so much I want to see
it again. I've booked my tickets, and I'm going to be there.
Maybe I can get more cast and crew to sign my programme.
I hate Hamlet too!
(c) 2002 Alicia Smith
I Hate Hamlet opened on Thursday the 5th of September. I was there.
So was Rob.
Unfortunately not many other people were. Well where-ever they were,
they ALL MISSED OUT! Because what a fine performance the cast and crew gave!
We were all privileged to be part of the audience.
I wanted to give a coherent (no really) (( yes,yes, I know it's *me* but
look you can imagine, can't you?)) review of this fine production,
so I actually took a notebook with me this time. And a pen.
Because I knew there would be a science fiction convention between me
seeing the play and getting to write about it, so let me just grab my
notes.
*Right*
The first thing that really lept out at me was the complex bevy of lighting
and sound effect brilliance that really sharpened the play, it was a
wonderful score of sound and lighting. Very challenging too, I should
imagine, what a forest of cues the backstage and cast must've been going through.
But they did it and it was brilliance, it sang, not one mistake amongst the lot. Telephone voices, offstage smashing lamps, doorbells, lightning,
spectral appearances, the audience was riveted.
( bored male voice "Clever of you to think of it." *shut up!*)
I liked especially the papers all shoved under the apartment door; it
spoke wonderfully of the unoccupancy, if they aren't careful this
place will show up as what not to do on a Neighbourhood Watch ad. "Rob Me"
The entire seance scene was amazing, lightning, lighting changes, blackouts and a brief spectral image. Wooooh. It was very smartly done.
I'll try to describe the set, but really, it is like suddenly Grads got
a Playhouse or Octagon style budget to play with. In the first act the place is covered with drop cloths, the apartment has been unlived in but some of the oppulence bleeds through, and then when the covers come off - well! A lot of hard work has gone into this set and it should be appreciated.
(Sound, set, props, lighting, effects & all backstage heroes, you done good. Thank you.)
The entire audience gasped and murmured when the curtain came up
on the revealed set. (this was when they weren't laughing at the Ghost's antics on the stage with the *ahem* "World Globe". Don't ask, it has to be seen.)
Now to the acting. In so many cases, with such an opulent set the
actors would be mere cutouts. Not so in this case.
Take Jeff Watkins as the haunted Hamlet don'twannabe, Andrew Rally.
His gentle American soapstar accent stapled neatly to him and
never slipping (as indeed did all of the cast's accents remained
impeccably pinned to their lips, never seen such a convincing lot)
he engenders our sympathies with his torn plight.
And watch him during the amazing Hamlet "cool school"
soliliquy ala Tom Lehrer's cool school "Clementine"
Very funny.
He is Hamlet really, the frustration, the nympho virgin girlfriend and all.
I've just realised, this play could be called Attack of the Archetypes,
there's enough material there for a Jungian convention.
Barrymore the suave, charming, seductive, witty, debonair and dissipated
actor. I can't say enough to praise Kim Martin's portrayal, he really
was very good. The way he walked, the way he talked, the way he insinuated
himself. The audience was charmed but quite aware that here was a very
naughty fellow, but we loved him all the same.
The duel! The duel! Andrew forced into it at first, clumsy, not wanting to,
Barrymore driving him into it, up and down the stairs, the lunge, the
clumsy parry, the desperation, the choreography and suddenly the audience
realise MY GOD! We're seeing the famous Princess Bride duel as Andrew, driven
to skills beyond those he has as he, and the living impaired Barrymore, duel it
out!
Jeff Watkins choreographed it too, and it is the most impressive
stage duel I have ever seen.
These two are a joy to watch on stage as they strive with and against each
other, with rapier like wit and wit like rapiers!
The script sings as well, the wit spicy and sharp, the delivery perfect.
Well done everyone.
Gary played by Matthew B Kiely is the self confessed self absorbed director
or is it producer of Andrew's defunct soapie. So shallow you could wade in
him and not have to worry about drying your ankles off afterwoulds, he
is a study in, well, himself. He tempts our hero with money, with soap,
with...more money. I mean it's money...lots of money, he just can't see
why on Earth Andrew would even consider doing Hamlet, for free, in the
park...instead of fame and money.
At first the audience is inclined to not take Gary terribly seriously,
but Matthew's portrayal of him is such that we are taken to the very
core of his being and we are actually beguiled into a sympathy with his
bewilderment at what has possessed his famous soap actor.
We understand him, and we understand Andrew too. Gary is played
humorously and with all the restraint required by his character, :-)
The audience likes Gary in spite of itself.
Angela Trevithik-Webb played Andrew's virginal nymphomaniac girlfriend,Diedre
an Ophelia just looking for the *right* pond...she was wonderful, a little bit
flaky, a little bit wise, a little too sensitive, and a little too...much.
A scary character really. She had...a....miasma. It's a wonder
that Andrew wasn't (more) demented from too much contact with her. It was
well done.
Felicia Dantine, played by the amazingly costumed Aletia K Artemis had
an accent that pulled us welcomingly down to earth and as with everyone
was held impeccably throughout the entire performance. Wearing her
costume with flare and insisting on our attention every minute she was
on stage with her colour, amazing use of gesture and outrageous accent
we like her too! Excellent performance.
Andrew's aging German agent Lilian Troy is played
with sensitivity, strength, grace, and sheer style by Dale James.
Picking her way through other people's conversations, with the grace
and disdain of a Siamese cat picking her way over a puddled
footpath she has some wonderful, spiky,
lines."Don't talk to *me* about great ideas! I'm German!"
Lilian's final scene is something that should not be missed for
the sensitivity and the gentleness of the conversation and events leading
up to it. Very well done folks, especially the lighting crew.
The fire, the candles. It was beautiful.
A fine performance by cast and crew.
What, you think I'm just saying that?
I'm going again on Wednesday night, I liked it so much I want to see
it again. I've booked my tickets, and I'm going to be there.
Maybe I can get more cast and crew to sign my programme.
I hate Hamlet too!
Walter PlingeWed, 11 Sept 2002, 07:23 am
I Hate Hamlet yet another stream of consciousness review by Alicia Smith
(c) 2002 Alicia Smith
I Hate Hamlet opened on Thursday the 5th of September. I was there.
So was Rob.
Unfortunately not many other people were. Well where-ever they were,
they ALL MISSED OUT! Because what a fine performance the cast and crew gave!
We were all privileged to be part of the audience.
I wanted to give a coherent (no really) (( yes,yes, I know it's *me* but
look you can imagine, can't you?)) review of this fine production,
so I actually took a notebook with me this time. And a pen.
Because I knew there would be a science fiction convention between me
seeing the play and getting to write about it, so let me just grab my
notes.
*Right*
The first thing that really lept out at me was the complex bevy of lighting
and sound effect brilliance that really sharpened the play, it was a
wonderful score of sound and lighting. Very challenging too, I should
imagine, what a forest of cues the backstage and cast must've been going through.
But they did it and it was brilliance, it sang, not one mistake amongst the lot. Telephone voices, offstage smashing lamps, doorbells, lightning,
spectral appearances, the audience was riveted.
( bored male voice "Clever of you to think of it." *shut up!*)
I liked especially the papers all shoved under the apartment door; it
spoke wonderfully of the unoccupancy, if they aren't careful this
place will show up as what not to do on a Neighbourhood Watch ad. "Rob Me"
The entire seance scene was amazing, lightning, lighting changes, blackouts and a brief spectral image. Wooooh. It was very smartly done.
I'll try to describe the set, but really, it is like suddenly Grads got
a Playhouse or Octagon style budget to play with. In the first act the place is covered with drop cloths, the apartment has been unlived in but some of the oppulence bleeds through, and then when the covers come off - well! A lot of hard work has gone into this set and it should be appreciated.
(Sound, set, props, lighting, effects & all backstage heroes, you done good. Thank you.)
The entire audience gasped and murmured when the curtain came up
on the revealed set. (this was when they weren't laughing at the Ghost's antics on the stage with the *ahem* "World Globe". Don't ask, it has to be seen.)
Now to the acting. In so many cases, with such an opulent set the
actors would be mere cutouts. Not so in this case.
Take Jeff Watkins as the haunted Hamlet don'twannabe, Andrew Rally.
His gentle American soapstar accent stapled neatly to him and
never slipping (as indeed did all of the cast's accents remained
impeccably pinned to their lips, never seen such a convincing lot)
he engenders our sympathies with his torn plight.
And watch him during the amazing Hamlet "cool school"
soliliquy ala Tom Lehrer's cool school "Clementine"
Very funny.
He is Hamlet really, the frustration, the nympho virgin girlfriend and all.
I've just realised, this play could be called Attack of the Archetypes,
there's enough material there for a Jungian convention.
Barrymore the suave, charming, seductive, witty, debonair and dissipated
actor. I can't say enough to praise Kim Martin's portrayal, he really
was very good. The way he walked, the way he talked, the way he insinuated
himself. The audience was charmed but quite aware that here was a very
naughty fellow, but we loved him all the same.
The duel! The duel! Andrew forced into it at first, clumsy, not wanting to,
Barrymore driving him into it, up and down the stairs, the lunge, the
clumsy parry, the desperation, the choreography and suddenly the audience
realise MY GOD! We're seeing the famous Princess Bride duel as Andrew, driven
to skills beyond those he has as he, and the living impaired Barrymore, duel it
out!
Jeff Watkins choreographed it too, and it is the most impressive
stage duel I have ever seen.
These two are a joy to watch on stage as they strive with and against each
other, with rapier like wit and wit like rapiers!
The script sings as well, the wit spicy and sharp, the delivery perfect.
Well done everyone.
Gary played by Matthew B Kiely is the self confessed self absorbed director
or is it producer of Andrew's defunct soapie. So shallow you could wade in
him and not have to worry about drying your ankles off afterwoulds, he
is a study in, well, himself. He tempts our hero with money, with soap,
with...more money. I mean it's money...lots of money, he just can't see
why on Earth Andrew would even consider doing Hamlet, for free, in the
park...instead of fame and money.
At first the audience is inclined to not take Gary terribly seriously,
but Matthew's portrayal of him is such that we are taken to the very
core of his being and we are actually beguiled into a sympathy with his
bewilderment at what has possessed his famous soap actor.
We understand him, and we understand Andrew too. Gary is played
humorously and with all the restraint required by his character, :-)
The audience likes Gary in spite of itself.
Angela Trevithik-Webb played Andrew's virginal nymphomaniac girlfriend,Diedre
an Ophelia just looking for the *right* pond...she was wonderful, a little bit
flaky, a little bit wise, a little too sensitive, and a little too...much.
A scary character really. She had...a....miasma. It's a wonder
that Andrew wasn't (more) demented from too much contact with her. It was
well done.
Felicia Dantine, played by the amazingly costumed Aletia K Artemis had
an accent that pulled us welcomingly down to earth and as with everyone
was held impeccably throughout the entire performance. Wearing her
costume with flare and insisting on our attention every minute she was
on stage with her colour, amazing use of gesture and outrageous accent
we like her too! Excellent performance.
Andrew's aging German agent Lilian Troy is played
with sensitivity, strength, grace, and sheer style by Dale James.
Picking her way through other people's conversations, with the grace
and disdain of a Siamese cat picking her way over a puddled
footpath she has some wonderful, spiky,
lines."Don't talk to *me* about great ideas! I'm German!"
Lilian's final scene is something that should not be missed for
the sensitivity and the gentleness of the conversation and events leading
up to it. Very well done folks, especially the lighting crew.
The fire, the candles. It was beautiful.
A fine performance by cast and crew.
What, you think I'm just saying that?
I'm going again on Wednesday night, I liked it so much I want to see
it again. I've booked my tickets, and I'm going to be there.
Maybe I can get more cast and crew to sign my programme.
I hate Hamlet too!
(c) 2002 Alicia Smith
I Hate Hamlet opened on Thursday the 5th of September. I was there.
So was Rob.
Unfortunately not many other people were. Well where-ever they were,
they ALL MISSED OUT! Because what a fine performance the cast and crew gave!
We were all privileged to be part of the audience.
I wanted to give a coherent (no really) (( yes,yes, I know it's *me* but
look you can imagine, can't you?)) review of this fine production,
so I actually took a notebook with me this time. And a pen.
Because I knew there would be a science fiction convention between me
seeing the play and getting to write about it, so let me just grab my
notes.
*Right*
The first thing that really lept out at me was the complex bevy of lighting
and sound effect brilliance that really sharpened the play, it was a
wonderful score of sound and lighting. Very challenging too, I should
imagine, what a forest of cues the backstage and cast must've been going through.
But they did it and it was brilliance, it sang, not one mistake amongst the lot. Telephone voices, offstage smashing lamps, doorbells, lightning,
spectral appearances, the audience was riveted.
( bored male voice "Clever of you to think of it." *shut up!*)
I liked especially the papers all shoved under the apartment door; it
spoke wonderfully of the unoccupancy, if they aren't careful this
place will show up as what not to do on a Neighbourhood Watch ad. "Rob Me"
The entire seance scene was amazing, lightning, lighting changes, blackouts and a brief spectral image. Wooooh. It was very smartly done.
I'll try to describe the set, but really, it is like suddenly Grads got
a Playhouse or Octagon style budget to play with. In the first act the place is covered with drop cloths, the apartment has been unlived in but some of the oppulence bleeds through, and then when the covers come off - well! A lot of hard work has gone into this set and it should be appreciated.
(Sound, set, props, lighting, effects & all backstage heroes, you done good. Thank you.)
The entire audience gasped and murmured when the curtain came up
on the revealed set. (this was when they weren't laughing at the Ghost's antics on the stage with the *ahem* "World Globe". Don't ask, it has to be seen.)
Now to the acting. In so many cases, with such an opulent set the
actors would be mere cutouts. Not so in this case.
Take Jeff Watkins as the haunted Hamlet don'twannabe, Andrew Rally.
His gentle American soapstar accent stapled neatly to him and
never slipping (as indeed did all of the cast's accents remained
impeccably pinned to their lips, never seen such a convincing lot)
he engenders our sympathies with his torn plight.
And watch him during the amazing Hamlet "cool school"
soliliquy ala Tom Lehrer's cool school "Clementine"
Very funny.
He is Hamlet really, the frustration, the nympho virgin girlfriend and all.
I've just realised, this play could be called Attack of the Archetypes,
there's enough material there for a Jungian convention.
Barrymore the suave, charming, seductive, witty, debonair and dissipated
actor. I can't say enough to praise Kim Martin's portrayal, he really
was very good. The way he walked, the way he talked, the way he insinuated
himself. The audience was charmed but quite aware that here was a very
naughty fellow, but we loved him all the same.
The duel! The duel! Andrew forced into it at first, clumsy, not wanting to,
Barrymore driving him into it, up and down the stairs, the lunge, the
clumsy parry, the desperation, the choreography and suddenly the audience
realise MY GOD! We're seeing the famous Princess Bride duel as Andrew, driven
to skills beyond those he has as he, and the living impaired Barrymore, duel it
out!
Jeff Watkins choreographed it too, and it is the most impressive
stage duel I have ever seen.
These two are a joy to watch on stage as they strive with and against each
other, with rapier like wit and wit like rapiers!
The script sings as well, the wit spicy and sharp, the delivery perfect.
Well done everyone.
Gary played by Matthew B Kiely is the self confessed self absorbed director
or is it producer of Andrew's defunct soapie. So shallow you could wade in
him and not have to worry about drying your ankles off afterwoulds, he
is a study in, well, himself. He tempts our hero with money, with soap,
with...more money. I mean it's money...lots of money, he just can't see
why on Earth Andrew would even consider doing Hamlet, for free, in the
park...instead of fame and money.
At first the audience is inclined to not take Gary terribly seriously,
but Matthew's portrayal of him is such that we are taken to the very
core of his being and we are actually beguiled into a sympathy with his
bewilderment at what has possessed his famous soap actor.
We understand him, and we understand Andrew too. Gary is played
humorously and with all the restraint required by his character, :-)
The audience likes Gary in spite of itself.
Angela Trevithik-Webb played Andrew's virginal nymphomaniac girlfriend,Diedre
an Ophelia just looking for the *right* pond...she was wonderful, a little bit
flaky, a little bit wise, a little too sensitive, and a little too...much.
A scary character really. She had...a....miasma. It's a wonder
that Andrew wasn't (more) demented from too much contact with her. It was
well done.
Felicia Dantine, played by the amazingly costumed Aletia K Artemis had
an accent that pulled us welcomingly down to earth and as with everyone
was held impeccably throughout the entire performance. Wearing her
costume with flare and insisting on our attention every minute she was
on stage with her colour, amazing use of gesture and outrageous accent
we like her too! Excellent performance.
Andrew's aging German agent Lilian Troy is played
with sensitivity, strength, grace, and sheer style by Dale James.
Picking her way through other people's conversations, with the grace
and disdain of a Siamese cat picking her way over a puddled
footpath she has some wonderful, spiky,
lines."Don't talk to *me* about great ideas! I'm German!"
Lilian's final scene is something that should not be missed for
the sensitivity and the gentleness of the conversation and events leading
up to it. Very well done folks, especially the lighting crew.
The fire, the candles. It was beautiful.
A fine performance by cast and crew.
What, you think I'm just saying that?
I'm going again on Wednesday night, I liked it so much I want to see
it again. I've booked my tickets, and I'm going to be there.
Maybe I can get more cast and crew to sign my programme.
I hate Hamlet too!