Paradigm Interactions™ Blog

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There have been quite a few reviews of this online from professional critics; I’m not one of them. I just like Shakespeare although I have never read Hamlet, in fact I purposely decided to let the performance inform me of the story and emotions, letting the actors have their way with me.

I was entranced, drawn in by the vigour and emotion, the madness and joy. I was taken into the world of conniving, murderous, manipulators and given a vision of honour superseding the dregs of royalty.

The actors and the staging were fantastic, I especially liked Hamlets exit stage right in his madness ‘weeeeeeee’ made me smile as he headed for exile. The jump from England to Norway confused me a bit and Ophelia’s madness was a little difficult to grasp as it happened so quickly.

Mariah Gale as Ophelia was profoundly wretched in her last throws and drove my emotions to compassion. Oliver Ford Davies as Polonius really irritated me for his fawning and devious behaviour. Penny Downie as Gertrude going through a descent and dire realisation process was a great counterpoint. Patrick Stewart as Claudius was imperious and frankly scary. David Tennant as Hamlet was three men he took on the characteristics of vainglorious son of the King, the plotting madness faking revenger and the contrite honourable sacrifice.

The staging makes it an intimate experience; at no time are the actors out of character. You can see their eyes, the driven emotions and it simply makes you believe.

Ultimately make your own decision, mine is I want to see it again.