The play opens with the two leads, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, tossing
a coin during a discussion on the subject of probability and fate. Both
are important themes in Stoppard's play, which depicts the characters
from Hamlet as if offstage from Shakespeare's original. It tells the tale
of courtier-spies Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and their part in the fate
of Hamlet, and indeed their own fate in life.
Their in-depth and philosophical (if somewhat accidental) relationship
is well portrayed, both in clever casting and direction of the characters,
and in the competence of the cast; with two very strong lead roles, it's
easy to see that problems may have arisen in the casting. In this case
however the 'Morecombe and Wise' style comedy duo worked brilliantly,
with both characters banter bouncing off each other smoothly, making it
fun to watch, and never stagnant.
The constant returns to Hamlet, minimally done, served very clearly to
illustrate to the audience the close links with the play, and also served
as a reminder of the plot of Shakespeare's original. The distancing of
the audience from these scenes however, helped to clarify the difference
between the two plays easily, in an almost Brechtian way.
Good directing, and excellent music and lighting served to heighten the
audience's involvement in the play and create mood very effectively, with
very little set or costume changes. A very clever production of the play
and thoroughly enjoyable.
Go and see it now.
Dan Lewis, 15.04.03
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