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Hamlet
Well Worth the Wait
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Kerri
Kanelos
February
5th 2006 |
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 For
the first time this season, Trinity Repertory
Company is hosting a truly brilliant production-the
theatre's first performance of Hamlet.
Some may wonder why it took so many years
to showcase Shakespeare's most famous play,
but is definitely well worth the wait.
Directed by
Brian McEleney, Trinity's rendition of Hamlet
is set in the 1930s-a time engulfed in stark
class differences that are apparent throughout
the performance. The wealthy, who are constantly
buzzing around the Hamlet estate, keep the
whiskey and good times flowing despite the
king's recent death. The young Hamlet is enraged
at the new marriage between his mother, the
queen (Cynthia Strickland) and Claudius (Timothy
Crowe), his stepfather. In a fun twist to
the original tale, Polonius (Janice Duclos)
is the woman in charge of all the domestic
duties as her daughter Ophelia (Rachael Warren)
steals kisses from Hamlet while cleaning house.
Stephen Thorne
masterfully leads the cast in the role of
the haunted prince Hamlet, who must choose
between avenging his father's death and protecting
his own self. Thorne gives an outstanding
performance throughout the 2 ½ hour
show, but he truly shines as the character's
complexity and madness deepens.
Trinity regular
Rachel Warren brings immense despair to her
role as the equally haunted Ophelia. Whether
erratically singing and tearing up flowers
or splashing in a bathtub, Warren proves that
she has the talent to bring one of Shakespeare's
most desperate characters to the stage. Joe
Wilson, Jr. is also a breath of fresh air
on the stage-his command of the role of Horatio
stands up nicely to Thorne's Hamlet.
However, Trinity
Rep's version is not all sorrow and insanity
but rather with quite a bit of comic relief
to keep the audience fully engaged. Janice
Duclos' boisterous outbursts and long-winded
monologues produced quite a few laughs. Fred
Sullivan, Jr. and Rama Marshall expertly delivered
a slapstick-type routine while digging graves.
It is little additions such as these that
make Hamlet a must-see event for even
those who dislike Shakespeare's work.
Although the
stage has the same general structure as this
season's Christmas Carol, the set designers
create a fantastic center stage that includes
a black piano, a grandiose sitting room, and
a monstrous wooden cabinet against the back
wall that holds china and silverware. Side
platforms hold the bathroom and chapel settings
for the performance. Towards the end of the
performance, cast members drape the entire
stage with beautiful white fabric that sets
the mood for Ophelia's throws and Hamlet's
trek with Horatio.
As a whole,
Trinity Rep's version of Hamlet is
a must see for all theatergoers. I am so excited
for the school groups that will be experiencing
this version of Shakespeare, opposed to the
awful film version with Mel Gibson.
Not surprisingly,
Trinity Repertory Company has decided extend
the run of this show through March 5th. Contact
the box office (401-351-4242) for tickets
or visit www.trinityrep.com. |
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