I really like Radiohead. I really like Hamlet. So, I was obviously very interested in how the show would combine the two. There was really no way of knowing based on how the show was marketed, since all it really said was that the music was incorporated into the show. Would it be background music? A Radiohead jukebox musical? Instrumental? The answer is basically all three and then some.
The music was constantly present, either as background music to scenes, the song dances were occurring to, or being sung by the characters themselves. All of the music had an ominous quality to it, so that there was no moment of peace for the audience.
This interpretation cut the story down significantly (which I was fine with). Some scenes were totally taken and conveyed through dance, which I’d argue was the main form of communication through the performance. My favorite dance moment was a sort of pas de deux between Ophelia and Hamlet. It established their relationship in a way that I think was deeper than words could convey and made their eventual dissolution that much more heartbreaking to watch. I believe that the dance conveying the emotion deeper than words rings true for every scene. The music, of course, goes hand in hand with this.
There are other things that I really liked about this production that didn’t have to do with the music. For example, when we first walked in, the stage was set with a bunch of hanging suit coats. I’ve been pondering it and I’m still yet to figure out why they did this, but if the answer is simply just “it looks cool” I’m okay with that. At the end, all the suit coats fell from where they had been drawn up and hit the stage at the same time. Same thing here: I don’t know why this was the case, but I liked it. Every character was dressed in black, except for when Ophelia was brought out to be buried, she’d been changed into a long white gown. My absolute favorite production choice was just how scary King Hamlet’s ghost was. He had a booming voice with a lot of effects of it. I think there was a visual to go with it, but I couldn’t see it. When he spoke, Hamlet moved almost like he was possessed, which I thought was an interesting way to convey their communication.
I really enjoyed ending our run of shows on a high note with something interesting and thought provoking. I unfortunately didn’t take any pictures of the set or of the RSC, except for this one of my seat. I got in Row M, Seat 20. I liked that it was my first initial and my lucky number.
Theatre in London U of A 