HAMLET: Shakespeare: RSC

HAMLET: William Shakespeare
RSC, Stratford Upon Avon
Directed by Steven Pimlott
Running time: 4 hours
Review date: 5th May 2001

Hamlet's bones laid splendidly bare.
Everything about this production by Steven Pimlott is sparse and out in the open - acting style, pace, evocative setting (Alison Chitty) and lighting (Peter Mumford). The result is remarkable, the sweeping Jacobean architecture of Shakespeare's play shines through and reveals inside a passionate, domestic tragedy. Within the towering sets the human figures are dwarfed and look terribly frail. Hamlet's bones are splendidly laid bare.

The powerful acting team achieve a great intimacy with the audience, they combine an unhurried pace with a strong sense of storytelling, so that although running time is on the long side, there is never a boring moment. Setting the play broadly within a modern setting builds a crucial bridge between acting space and auditorium too.

Sam West's energetic Hamlet is clearly never mad. This Hamlet is a highly intelligent individual, at times confused by the process he is caught up in and occasionally gutted by the pain he knows s causing others. Hamlet's relationship with Ophelia is all too human within this context, an effect heightened by Kerry Condon's fragile figure: here is someone who clearly will become a victim of the storm that rages around her.

This Hamlet is clearly deeply in love with theatre too, with a hands-on approach to the Player's performance.

Outstanding within the acting team is Marty Cruikshank (Gertrude), she moves easefully from regal statuesque to passionate, distraught woman and takes us with her every step of the way.

Pimlott's production must be among the best Hamlet productions you'll get to see and has a passion and clarity that makes it work on many levels at once. It is ideal, too, for students studying the play.

Director: Steven Pimlott
Designer: Alison Chitty
Lighting: Peter Mumford
Music: Jason Carr
Sound Matt McKenzie

Cast:
Francisco: Giles Fagan
Barnardo: Glenn Chapman
Marcellus: Michael Mears
Horatio: John Dougall
Ghost: Christopher Good
Claudius: Larry Lamb
Cornelius: Chuk Iwuji
Voltemand: James Curran
Laertes: Ben Meyjes
Polonius: Alan David
Hamlet: Samuel West
Gertrude: Marty Cruickshank
Ophelia: Kerry Condon
Reynaldo: Adam Kay
Rosencrantz: Wayne Cater
Guildenstern: Sean Hannaway
First Player: Finn Caldwell
Prologue: Chuk Iwuji
Player King: Robert Jezek
Player Queen: Jennifer McEvoy
Fortinbras: Finn Caldwell
Captain: Damian Kearney
Gentlewoman: Hattie Morahan
Messenger: Alex Zorbas
First Gravedigger: Alan David
Second Gravedigger: Conor Moloney
Priest : James Curran
Osric: Christopher Good
English Ambassador: Michael Mears

2001-11-10 17:10:01