'Hamlet'
Royal Shakespeare Theatre | UK tour 2018
Review by Tim Norman
“To be or not to be, that is the question…”
Shakespeare’s great tragedy, sizzling with infamous soliloquies and enriching, complex themes, visits the Theatre Royal, Plymouth as part of its 2018 UK tour.
Paapa Essiedu is a youthful, compelling Hamlet, literally painted with madness; an ‘antic disposition’ hidden with splashes of colour on both face and costume. He delivers lines at a terrific speed (‘trippingly on the tongue’, one might say), providing a facetious and menacing Prince.
For such a dark play, there is delightful comic relief woven throughout, emphasised by Simon Goodwin’s playful direction. As he descends into madness (antic or not), here Hamlet slaps public toilet signs onto his Uncle’s throne and a disabled sign onto Polonius himself! Well, when on the brink of madness, what’s the harm in a little fun?
Mimi Ndiweni, possessing a beautiful singing voice, plays the tragic Ophelia, literally tearing her hair out and sharing strands with Gertrude, Laertes and Claudius during her “mad” scene. An intriguing and distressing twist to the usual floral offering.
The modern African setting injects a further energy into to the play, with slick scene changes executed to the rhythmic beat of African drumming. In this staging, swords become guns (Polonius is shot through the arras instead of stabbed) and these in turn are swapped for sticks as Hamlet and Laertes engage in their fateful, climactic duel.
A dynamic and clever set moves us through the action seamlessly, with a central platform used to house the King’s throne and Gertrude’s bed, later opening up to reveal poor Yorick’s renowned grave.
The ‘play within the play’ - (wherein Hamlet catches the conscience of the King) – is staged before graffiti strewn, paint splattered cloths; a stark contrast to this otherwise cold and metallic world, one which reflects the uneasy and rotten state.
Hamlet treats us to a powerfully intricate and nuanced exploration of the human mind, a revenge play ripping out of its genre and defying expectations. The play’s complex characters have provided scholars and audience members with endless debate and questions, and it is exciting to ruminate over a new staging such as this. Is Hamlet ever truly mad? Is Gertrude privy to Claudius’s dark actions? Is it better ‘to be’ or ‘not to be’? Perhaps we will never truly know, but then again, it’s more exciting that way…
The RSC’s production travels to Hull next as part of its six venue tour, and a recorded version is available on DVD. A powerful Shakespearean treat not to be missed!
www.rsc.org.uk/hamlet/tour-dates-and-venues