One can see why 'Hamlet' is one of Shakespeare's best known and acclaimed plays with such memorable characters, some of the most deservedly famous in all literature, and text often quoted and referenced. It is long and not easy to perform at all (namely physchologically), but the characterisation, language and complex emotions and psychology have always riveted me and it has always been one of my favourites from Shakespeare.
While very interesting for primarily having a female Hamlet and male Ophelia (have seen many gender reversal castings with variable success, luckily these two were among the successes), part of me did feel that this Hamlet could have been better than it turned out. It is very well acted throughout and does a lot right, but there are a few missed opportunities that made the production feel too safe and a little lacking in the complex depth that 'Hamlet' is full of.
Am going to begin with the good. Michelle Terry is riveting as Hamlet, and does the angry and bereft emotions especially well. It is an incredibly thoughtful and emotionally complex interpretation clearly delivered. Have never seen a male Ophelia before (or at least at the top of my head), and Shubhum Saraf is very moving and also interestingly dangerous at times. James Garnon is a serpentine Claudius and Bettrys James is strong as Laertes. Nadia Nadarajah, deaf in real life, fascinates as Guildenstern and plays beautifully, the use of sign language very communicative.
Visually, this 'Hamlet' has nice atmosphere and is tasteful. Shakespeare's text always shines and is delivered with clarity and nuance. The tragedy often comes over incredibly well, with some genuinely poignant moments like how Hamlet's reacts to Ophelia's death. The intensity in the drama is brought out very well too, and the necessary spookiness.
Not all the performances however worked for me. While Helen Schlesinger gets the scheming nature of Gertrude right, the sensuality wasn't quite there. Especially in her chemistry between Garnon, which was one of the missed opportunities. Also was a little disappointed by Richard Katz, who comes over as too much of a bumbling buffoon (something that Polonius is not).
Furthermore, there are missed opportunities. Would have liked more chemistry, or at least more sensual passion, between Garnon and Schlesinger. More problematic was that Elsinore didn't seem corrupt or a place of uncertainty, so the suspense is not there enough. The comedy doesn't quite come off, at times overdone but also at other times too reserved. As said, Polonius coming over as too much of a buffoon disappointed as he is usually a bright spot and one of the play's more interesting characters. Also could have done without Hamlet in a clown costume, that was beyond silly and did not make sense, as well as feeling really out of place in the drama where it features.
Concluding, a lot of great things, primarily the performances, but uneven. 6.5/10.
