Hamlet
Theatre Severn
At Shrewsbury Castle
30-31 July 2024
The scene was set for a medieval play about deceit and outrage, murder and plotting, to put it more succinctly the castle was full of theatre goers waiting to see the return of The Lord’s Chamberlain’s Men and their totally traditional handling of Hamlet.
Billed as the greatest play in the English Language one feels perhaps the trumpet is being blown a little too loudly. Its an OK play but I really suggest that even in the last fifty years drama and plays just as good or better have been written performed, and in the medium of television writing, almost instantly forgotten., But really playwrighting has been equalled if not surpassed by 17th,18th ,19th ,20th ,and 21st century drama. However, it is billed as such and who are we to argue.
Shakespeare, after all in the eyes of many around the world, defines us. I would have taken exception to that statement a while ago but when one looks at our day to day remarks we make, or even curses we utter, we are invariably quoting Shakespeare. So, he is a big deal and as a result still fills and thrills theatres and their audiences all over the world…Nice on Stratford!
One is always thrilled to be watching drama outdoors and Theatre Severn at Shrewsbury Castle is always a treat. It’s a beautiful setting. However it does have drawbacks, if a professional Shakespearean company wants to work traditionally with projection over P.A. there are times when the language is lost amongst the sounds of everyday life going on outside the castle. That is a distraction and whilst traditional Shakespeare is good and pure, surely just a little PA system might help a smidgeon.
The Chamberlain’s Men are known for their to the letter performances. There is no change of setting, or narrative or anything, in fact back in the days when Shakespeare was writing, women were banned for performing in plays. Result? Males played all the parts, just as they do in this rendition. It works, one doesn’t think even for a second about there being a man there in a frock. One believes when one is watching Ophelia or Gertrude one is watching two females. The question of them not being so is never in doubt. The public will suspend disbelief for as long as they need to if what they are getting is good. It was the same tonight.
The understanding of the text and the narrative is evident in the naturality of line delivery. A good actor can say a famous piece of text and make it sound fresh and new and of his own making. That’s the cleverness about presenting such old and well loved treasures. That is what puts this bunch of players so high above such others. For a purist and most genuine performance of Shakespeare’s text I would look no further than to the Chamberlains. Whilst directors strive to do something new with Shakespeare to make it more accessible, there is nothing of the kind in this company's agenda; they want you to see it as it was seen, in the open air amidst a large throng. Whilst the disrespectful behaviour of the groundlings is now gone, the rest of the experience is as it was when written, and that in itself is worth a mention.
Design one found slightly disappointing, the set has to be many things throughout the play so plain is probably best but, plain grey blocks seemed a little stark and looked even less regal with the beauty of Shrewsbury Castle as a backdrop. Not the best designed looking Shakespearean set that one has encountered.
The acting and characterisation of the players is in no doubt whatsoever the performances were robust and perfect, one might expect that from a company of this calibre that should be the case. Well, this reviewer is pleased to say it is.
In summary one would initially advise you that if you are going to the next evening’s performance on the 31st of July, even if it has been the hottest day on record, if you go in summer clothes you will regret it. It goes cold quite quickly so be mindful. The show itself is every bit as good as one would expect this company to provide. It was full of fear, tension, and murder but more to the point it was full a language which made us who we are today.
This is a four-star review
Sofia Lewis
Sofia is a successful playwright living in Shrewsbury. After graduating from Wolverhampton University in theatre. Sofia went on to become an actor and film maker. Her first play was published in 2015 and her plays have been seen all around the world. She is also the instigator of the popular concerts, The Sound Of Shrewsbury Folk. She has been writing with loveshrewsbury for 13 years and loves Theatre Severn and all she sees there.
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