Hamlet @ Millennium Library
I urge you all to go.
“It’s puzzled me all my life” – Peter Hall, on the second half Hamlet. There’d be no surprise if Peter Hall was a reluctant sixth form student, but Hall founded the Royal Shakespeare Company. Perhaps Hamlet Part II befuddles even Shakespeare buffs because of its considerable length. Or, its huge cast could be the source of bewilderment.
Enter The Librarian Theatre Company, who run a 90 minute version of Hamlet, with a four person cast. They’ve curbed the confusion, while sustaining the true passion of Shakespeare’s tragedy. And they exclusively perform in libraries.
In this Hamlet, there was no Osric, no Fortibras, no Rosecrantz and Guildenstern. Hamlet’s father, Claudius and Polonius were all played by one actor. Same goes for Gertrude and Ophelia. Okay, technically Ophelia was played by a doll-like puppet, played by the same actor as Gertrude. Despite the doubling and missed characters, it didn’t feel like The Librarian Theatre were cutting corners.
The acting was brilliant, especially Ophelia’s painful, pre-suicide lament, and of course, the old “to be or not to be…”. 20th century costume and music bought Hamlet hurtling through time, creating an interesting discord with preserved Shakespearian language. There were some changes in the original script; co-founders Eva-May and Tom Cuthbertson added book-themed motifs, as well as notably condensing the dialogue. Rather than a play, the book became the thing that caught the king. For book lovers the change was more than a gimmick. It was an introspective novelty, backed by theatrical substance (and a fantastic surprise!).
The Librarian Theatre Company delighted the audience who, at the play’s close, clapped as enthusiastically as one can in a library. The Book’s The Thing demonstrated of the strength of theatre, and also the fruits of innovation. Their version of Hamlet was reduced, but only in a delicious, red wine sauce kinda way. The Librarian Theatre will be back in Norwich in December for their adaption of A Christmas Carol – I urge you all to go.
8/10
