“Something is rotten
in the state of Denmark”, but not in this show. If there are any public
performances, or you don’t mind a student audience and if you are drawn to
Shakespeare like a moth to a flame then drag thyself to this nunnery and
within, soak in the potent portrait of this bewildering play. (Review by Dr
Verne Rowin Munsamy)
Brief let me be, or not to be...
ThinkTheatre presents their annual offerings of Shakespeare's classic texts for high school learners, to remind them and have them relish in these wondrous texts, and bold events that give rationale to the human psyche that seem timeless in the Bard's writings.
Co-produced by Maggie Coppen and Clare Mortimer, this year they bring to the stage Hamlet and Othello at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, which is nestled in the greenery of UKZN. These tragic texts are not just claimed as set works for learners in high school to read but when performed also remind us of the layered meaning of these texts that seem to defy times passing. While other texts have been forgotten after their impact, Shakespeare remains firmly placed in our context and will probably surpass this current era and offer the next generation the pleasure and joy of watching these words dazzle trippingly off the tongues of future actors.
Directed by Clare Mortimer, her vision brings fresh meaning to this now-ancient text. The set is a raised area, a well-used walkway on scaffolding. Hung red curtains that are floor to ceiling and used for numerous scenes. These hang above a raised ramp, giving us three distinct levels that allow for diversity in blocking.
The occasional sound effects add a nuanced layer to the direction. The hacky sack beat between Hamlet, Rosencrantz (played by Jeremy Richards) and Guildenstern (played by Tafar Nyatsanza) was quite refreshing and modernized the actions to the ‘puritan’ version of the spoken text. I enjoyed the use of shadow puppets that represented the play within the play, where we see Hamlet seniors’ demise.
The acting was very appealing. I have been following the careers of Mike Gritten and Belinda Henwood since I was a young drama student many moons ago and have always been in awe of their command of the stage, the poise of their character development and sheer omnipotent presence on the stage. Gritten as the King has the appropriate powerful vocal texture that the character requires. His character development and acting skills are admirable as always. Belinda Henwood as Gertrude is ever-graceful and confident. Her eloquent and complex portrayal of the Queen is true to the acting style that she offers to all the roles that I have seen her re-enact.
Darren King, whom I had the honour of being directed by, plays Polonius. I was most enamoured by the wonderful lightness that he brings to the role and the play as he portrays the character with a comedic element thus adding a nice dynamic to the otherwise death, doom and gloom of this tragic play.
The lead actor, Duane Behrens, who plays Hamlet has astute emotional quality for the role. His marvelously moving rendition of this tragic hero, as he quests for revenge for his demised father, is astonishing. He has tenderness, madness and melancholy, ill-begotten sorrow, and vengefulness all at the right proportions. He was the perfect Hamlet!
Laertes, played by JT Medupe, is strong and nuanced in character development. Kaylee McIlroy as Ophelia is the appropriate level of confidence that crumbles under Hamlet’s neglect and actions. Nhlakanipho Manqele who plays Horatio, has some memorable moments but I suppose he is more reserved in waiting for his major role as Othello in this double bill feature. Blessing Xaba as Osric, and Kira Timm as the player Queen round off the cast with impactful performances in rather minor roles.
“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark”, but not in this show. If there are any public performances, or you don’t mind a student audience and if you are drawn to Shakespeare like a moth to a flame then drag thyself to this nunnery and within, soak in the potent portrait of this bewildering play. Playing at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre. If you miss this show, then one must repent! - by Dr Verne Rowin Munsamy
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