Hamlet

Hamlet

The Public Theater

August 11, 2017

 

Photo courtesy of The Public Theater

Sam Gold has directed a bare bones production of Hamlet at The Public Theater that is accessible, riveting, and engaging.  He incorporates humor and song to render this tale of power, revenge, and madness into a story of human emotion and frailty.  The cast of nine are all in modern dress and double on a few roles.  The action builds from one act to the next, erupting to its fatal climax and tragic conclusion.

It is reported to the grieving Prince Hamlet (played by Oscar Isaac) that the ghost of his father, the King, has been seen roaming in the dark of night.  Hamlet seeks out the specter, who reveals that he was murdered by his brother, Claudius (played by Ritchie Coster), who now wears the crown.  This builds on Hamlet’s despair, since Claudius has already married Hamlet's mother, Gertrude (played by Charlayne Woodard).  Hamlet is obligated to take revenge.  His plot is a slow one, delayed by his need for proof of Claudius’ deed and his mother’s participation, and his desire to separate from his love, Ophelia (played by Gayle Rankin).

Charlayne Woodard & Oscar Issac
Photo courtesy of The Public Theater

Oscar Isaac’s Hamlet carefully figures out his plan while purposefully keeping the other characters at arms distance with a convincing act of madness.  His soliloquies transport the audience into Hamlet’s deeper layers of thought and emotion.  His Hamlet grows over the course of the play, coming to terms with his grief and desolation, and becoming keenly focused on his choices for action.  Charlayne Woodard’s Gertrude slowly draws the conclusion that Claudius murdered her husband.  Her physicality transforms as the realization becomes clear.  You see it in her eyes, especially in the way she looks at Claudius.  These small moments play powerfully and flip the action at unexpected moments. 

Mr. Gold juxtaposes the intensity of Laertes’ need for retribution and the heightened emotion of Ophelia’s mad scene with the slow build of Hamlet’s well thought out plan of revenge and act of madness.  Both depictions ring true, and serve two purposes.  It frames Claudius’ suspicion of Hamlet throughout the course of the play and also offers a visceral insight into Hamlet’s character and thought process.  Mr. Gold also does a stunning job of double casting.  Ritchie Coster plays both Claudius and the Ghost of King Hamlet.  His Claudius is presuming and cunning.  His King Hamlet is haunting and consumed.  There are a few scenes where he switches roles on the spot, which impressively make a strong statement.  Peter Friedman is cast as both Polonius and a Grave Digger.  He is witty and authoritative as Polonius, then, shortly after his murder, successfully hits the comic timing of one of the Grave Diggers. 

Oscar Isaac & Gayle Rankin
Photo courtesy of The Public Theater

Anatol Yusef is bold as Laertes.  His character maintains his composure and strength, then becomes overwrought with emotion at the murder of his father and suicide of his sister.  Gayle Rankin plays Ophelia’s mad scene to the max, conjuring a deep level of compassion and empathy.  Keegan-Michael Key is warm and charming as Horatio.  He is the window with which the audience enters the story, and the final voice of reason at the end.

Hamlet is playing at The Public Theater through September 3.  It runs four hours with two intermissions.  The journey is rich, truthful, and well worth every second.       

Domenick Danza