Hamlet - Subiaco Arts Centre
Sat, 30 Mar 2013, 02:12 amDoctor Theatre1 post in thread
Hamlet - Subiaco Arts Centre
Sat, 30 Mar 2013, 02:12 am"If it be now, tis not to come. If it be not now, yet it will come. The readiness is all. Let be" - this review comes so late,due to posting difficulties, that it has to be considered more a series of thoughts on the production at Subiaco Arts Centre, a co-production between Barking Gecko Theatre Company and WAAPA and on the great tragedy itself. I believe that the collective theatrical community of any major city must ensure that Hamlet is performed at least once every 3 - 4 years. Bell Shakespeare manages to get a Dane out every four years. Of course in London you can expect about 3 - 4 major attempts every year. Think back over Jude Law, David Tennent, Rory Kinnear or Michael Sheen in recent memory. But here in Perth we have waited too long since Raymond Omedei's commitment to the play at The Hole in the Wall which boasted Richard Dillane in the 80's and David Davies in the 90's as the melancholic prince before that wonderful Perth theatre company ceased to be.
Luckily our recent Prince did not disappoint. James Sweeney was a fine and energetic Hamlet. He managed to surprise us with his interpretation and his delivery. He will no doubt want to it again and he will be even better next time. The scenes with Rose Riley as Ophelia were especially good and she was emotionally engaging. All of the performances were solid but it must have been noted by the WAAPA staff that they still have a way to go to centre the voices of their students and see to it that they are fully grounded in their vocal work. As a traditionalist I didn't appreciate the changing of the sex of Polonius even if Grace Simbert pulled off a fine characterisation.
John Sheedy has pitted himself against this incredible work and he should be happy. It was an easy to handle, accessible version of the play. He will also want to do it again and next time he will want to let the play speak for itself a little more. His 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' version was done last year at The Young Vic by Ian Rickson with Michael Sheen in an asylum and having the inmates playing his tragedy over and over as his self-therapy. Whilst these 'takes' on the play are interesting, even arresting, they ultimately make us yearn for a straight version of the play. In fact I yearn for a doublet and tights version so that I can see the play without all the emphasis on modern surveillance, or modern interpretations of madness. However, as far as pure entertainment is concerned, Sheedy pulled off a remarkable feat, he made Hamlet breathe anew in Subiaco. Who is next?
Doctor TheatreSat, 30 Mar 2013, 02:12 am
"If it be now, tis not to come. If it be not now, yet it will come. The readiness is all. Let be" - this review comes so late,due to posting difficulties, that it has to be considered more a series of thoughts on the production at Subiaco Arts Centre, a co-production between Barking Gecko Theatre Company and WAAPA and on the great tragedy itself. I believe that the collective theatrical community of any major city must ensure that Hamlet is performed at least once every 3 - 4 years. Bell Shakespeare manages to get a Dane out every four years. Of course in London you can expect about 3 - 4 major attempts every year. Think back over Jude Law, David Tennent, Rory Kinnear or Michael Sheen in recent memory. But here in Perth we have waited too long since Raymond Omedei's commitment to the play at The Hole in the Wall which boasted Richard Dillane in the 80's and David Davies in the 90's as the melancholic prince before that wonderful Perth theatre company ceased to be.
Luckily our recent Prince did not disappoint. James Sweeney was a fine and energetic Hamlet. He managed to surprise us with his interpretation and his delivery. He will no doubt want to it again and he will be even better next time. The scenes with Rose Riley as Ophelia were especially good and she was emotionally engaging. All of the performances were solid but it must have been noted by the WAAPA staff that they still have a way to go to centre the voices of their students and see to it that they are fully grounded in their vocal work. As a traditionalist I didn't appreciate the changing of the sex of Polonius even if Grace Simbert pulled off a fine characterisation.
John Sheedy has pitted himself against this incredible work and he should be happy. It was an easy to handle, accessible version of the play. He will also want to do it again and next time he will want to let the play speak for itself a little more. His 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' version was done last year at The Young Vic by Ian Rickson with Michael Sheen in an asylum and having the inmates playing his tragedy over and over as his self-therapy. Whilst these 'takes' on the play are interesting, even arresting, they ultimately make us yearn for a straight version of the play. In fact I yearn for a doublet and tights version so that I can see the play without all the emphasis on modern surveillance, or modern interpretations of madness. However, as far as pure entertainment is concerned, Sheedy pulled off a remarkable feat, he made Hamlet breathe anew in Subiaco. Who is next?