Hamlet – Oxford Castle & Prison, June 21st 2022
To thine own self be true...
I have enjoyed a handful of performances of Hamlet, having studied the play at A-Level many moons ago, so I was very much looking forward to seeing the BMH Productions' interpretation of one of Shakespeare’s most famous (and longest) tragedies. And in the austere surroundings of Oxford Castle & Prison, no less; a very suitable backdrop for the imprisoned Dane to descend into madness, self-moralising and ultimately, murder (spoiler alert).
It was an incongruously sunny evening in the Oxford Castle courtyard, for such a dark and tragic tale, with birds tweeting and laughter floating in from the outside world. Despite the lingering heat of the day, I was immediately drawn into the chilling drama of the performance as the body of Hamlet’s father was solemnly carried into the grounds, voiced-over with sombre news reports of the death of the king, and cleverly setting up the dynamic of the players in this opening scene.
Director Alistair Nunn writes that, for him at least, “this is a tragedy of two families destroyed by one terrible burden piled onto an unsuitable man.” and I could see throughout the performance that the ensemble had taken his vision very much to heart. Hamlet’s soliloquizing on his enforced quest is deeply personal and while he may be acting out his so-called madness at some points, the line between his act and the reality of his mental deterioration is indistinct at best. Performed brilliantly by Ed Blagrove we see the troubled Dane go through innumerable psychological tortures as he attempts to avenge his father. In collaboration with Matt Blurton’s arrogant “uncle-father” King Claudius and loving “aunt-mother” Queen Gertrude (Alison Stibbe) the family dynamic of the threesome is played with perfect drama and tension. This tension is briefly lifted by the levity of the interactions with (and between) Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (Kate O’Connor and Joe O’Connor) and the iconic gravediggers scene – with comedic performances from Paul Clifford and Nicola Jones.
A favourite performance of the night, for me at least, was that of Carolyn Taylor, playing the servile, vain Polonius with a particularly haughty air. Indeed, I enjoyed the change in gender for both Polonius and Laertes (powerfully played by Cate Nunn) and the extra layer of conflict this added to the show. I can’t discuss the performance without mentioning the fabulous Jessica Reilly who gave us a playful yet heart-breaking turn as Ophelia and Vijay Hare as a grounded and loyal Horatio.
The use of music throughout the show was quite noteworthy with blasts of well-known tracks carrying us through scene changes and adding a modern touch to the 400-year-old play, which combines interestingly with an Edwardian style of costume and the use of guns. But it is the writing that wins every time when it comes to Shakespeare, and in the end, “the play's the thing…” which Director Alistair Nunn sums up better than I ever could: “Far from a play about indecision, it’s a play all about decisions and their deadly and terrible consequences.”
A thoroughly enjoyable night out - and a wonderful way to kick-off a summer of outdoor theatre.