The
first Hamlet I’ve truly believed in. (Review by Caroline Smart)
Think Theatre in association with The
Playhouse Company, is presenting its annual Shakespeare production although
this year sees two of his tragedies being offered for matric school learners: Alongside
a revival of Think Theatre’s widely acclaimed Othello is a new staging of Hamlet.
There was a public performance of Hamlet on March 1 and the audience’s
response gave an indication of how well it is being received by its target
audience.
Shakespeare’s
Hamlet is a complex role to play. The young man is an emotional mess. He’s in
love; grieving for his two-months dead father; enraged that his mother has
remarried so quickly; steadfastly loyal to close friends; suspicious of his
uncle and fired with revenge for his father’s murder.
These
are the challenges and emotional demands that faced Bryan Hiles when director
Clare Mortimer cast him in the role. It was an excellent choice. This is a
modern-day Prince of Denmark with an innate sense of humour while at the same
time respecting Shakespeare’s language and characterisation. I’ve seen numerous
Hamlets but Bryan’s is the first one I’ve truly believed in.
Also impressing – especially in the final moments
- is Nhlakanipho Manqele as Hamlet’s friend Horatio; Clare Mortimer as Hamlet’s
mother Gertrude, and Michael Gritten as Claudius, Hamlet’s traitorous
stepfather. Cara Roberts was a charming and fragile Ophelia with a solid
performance by Marc Kay as her brother Laertes. The fight scene between Hamlet
and Laertes was powerful and credible.
Mortimer has made the most of opportunities
for comedy. Darren King brought moments of amusement as the pompous Polonius and
Rowan Bartlett was a delight as the Gravedigger (one of the four roles he
portrays!). Chris van Rensburg and Straw Nzimande were suitably two-faced as
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet’s friends who betray him. The cast was
rounded out with Kirsty Ndawo appearing in the shadow play sequences.
The other impressive aspect of this cast is
that they are all in both Hamlet and Othello with Nhlakanipho Manqele taking
the role of Othello. So, they could be doing both productions in one day or one
of each!
Hamlet and Othello
will play in the Playhouse Drama until March 24, with schools performances from
Mondays to Fridays at 09h00 and 12h00 daily. Performances will also be given in
Richards Bay on March 22 and Port Shepstone on March 23.
Supported by The University of Johannesburg,
Think Theatre’s Hamlet and Othello will go on to play at the
University of Johannesburg from May 8 to 19 and at the Brooklyn Theatre in
Pretoria from May 22 to 26. Outreach performances at Pretoria University from May
29 to June 2 are yet to be confirmed. All bookings through Doreen Stanley on 033
343 4884 or 084 556 0668 or email Doreen@thinktheatre.co.za.
Follow Hamlet
and Othello on Facebook, and keep up
to date with production news at #ThinkTheatreHamlet and #ThinkTheatreOthello on
Facebook and Twitter. – Caroline Smart
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