Hamlet

For several years now it's been a great pleasure to be a subscriber to Seattle Shakespeare Company. They always present an interesting season, mixing Shakespeare with a sprinkling of modern or classical works like Turn of the Screw or, this season, the Threepenny Opera. And while the quality of the plays they produce can vary from completely lackluster (last year's disappointing Henry V) to the mediocre (Two Gents) to the surprisingly amazing (Electra) all within the same season, they nonetheless never fail on their unspoken promise to deliver shows with something different to them. Whether it be in concept, costume, or setting, there's always at least something that sets them apart from your run of the mill Shakespeare.

Now, last season was supposed to see the return of director John Langs after his very popular production two years ago of Merchant of Venice (and King Lear before that...we'll ignore his ill advised Romeo and Juliet). However, due to unforeseen circumstances he wasn't able to do it, but instead of scrapping it completely they simply delayed the production until this year, their 20th season (and also opened the way for Electra to be shown). And boy was it worth the wait.

If you follow the Seattle theater scene or simply happened to chance upon any reviews for this show, you'd see reviewers calling this one of the best Hamlets they've seen and even going so far as to call Darragh Kennan's performance "the performance by which all other performances of Hamlet will now be judged" (seattle.broadwayworld.com). And seeing all of these unabashedly glowing reviews you might, as I was, be a little suspicious. I am here to tell you...don't be. So just for emphasis, before I even begin to summarize anything...

Seattle Shakespeare Company, John Langs, and the entire cast have produced the best Hamlet I have ever seen, and likely ever will see for many many years to come. Never before have I experienced a play like this. Never before have I wanted so badly to go right back inside and watch it again. Never before have I payed the rather large price of $22 a ticket to go back just to see it one more time. Never before have I been so incensed that Seattle Shakespeare doesn't sell videos of their performances so I could watch it over and over again and get something new from it each time. Never before have 3.5 hours gone by without me noticing or caring. And never before have I been so enthusiastic that EVERY SINGLE PERSON MUST SEE THIS PLAY. You have until December 5th. Do not hesitate. Pay the money, and enjoy the show of a lifetime.

With all that said, I almost don't want to write anything about this production until it's over, just to make sure that every single moment was as refreshing and original for you as it was for me. To those who know nothing about Hamlet, this is easily the most decipherable production I've seen. To those who are intimately familiar with all the different interpretations and theories strewn throughout the text like myself, be prepared to rediscover this play in a completely new and wholly welcome way. After seeing it, the only problems I had with it were purely theoretical in nature. It was such a perfect production that I just wished they had tackled more of the themes hidden in the text that I love to make it even more perfect, which is of course practically impossible until I direct it myself, and even then I could only dream of achieving half as good a production as what has been put before me.

Normally in any production there's at least one weak link, whether it be supporting cast, set, lighting, costuming, sound, direction or the main actors themselves. In this rarest of shows, there is no weak link. Every single character, even if they have one line in all of 3.5 hours, is solid. The set is stunning and can't help but be marveled at. The sound design is sparse, but it provides tugs at the emotions, whether to suspense or sadness, at all the right moments. The lighting provides some amazing opportunities with shadows and wonderfully juxtaposes complete darkness with complete light. The costumes are simple, but very well crafted, with each character sporting variations on black and/or white depending on a symbology that I couldn't quite decipher, but couldn't wait to sink my teeth into for deeper analysis upon seeing it again. And the direction...Before this production I recognized Langs' vision in Lear but put it mainly down to just plain good acting and design working together. In Merchant, I saw more clearly the hand of a confident man with a solid understanding of where he wanted the play to go and of the actors he had to support it. In Hamlet, his touch is undeniable and reveals a true visionary who balances perfectly a deep dedication to the source material while still incorporating his own very fresh take on a play that many consider great but well overdone. He is able to takes speeches and scenes that have been performed and spoken thousands of times before, and bring a completely new twist to them. Of course the actors he has to express that vision were especially amazing (Kennan really is the Hamlet by which all future Hamlets will be judged), and he probably couldn't have done what he did without them, but for the first time I really see as an audience member that John Langs is one powerful director, and I can't wait to see what he comes out with next.

For a full breakdown, you'll have to wait until December 5th. Until then, go see it if you can. If you're out of town, drive or fly back here and see it. If you don't have the money, beg borrow or steal to get it. This production is not to be missed.

Hamlet gets an 11/10.

It's that good.