October 6, 2011
Kupenga Kwa Hamlet is performed in the round and features only two actors so it feels very intimate. The North Wall is perfect for this play as the audience can be close enough to the stage to feel truly involved with the action. Indeed, if you sit in the front row then you may well be chosen to go up on stage to assist or, like me, enact Ophelia (without having to leave my seat). It is understandable though that the actors need the audience to participate as it must be difficult to perform such a complex play with only two people.
Admittedly the performance is considerably shorter than an uncut Hamlet - at around 75 minutes. Don’t tell the Shakespearean purists out there but I actually much preferred this shorter, less intense and more entertaining version. It helps if you've seen the full production before or at least know the story, but this isn’t particularly essential as the imaginative and creative narration of this production effectively presents the main elements of the story.
The different characters are all assigned signature moves so the audience can easily tell which character is being depicted which is useful as the actors wear identical faded orange jumpsuits. The Queen, Hamlet’s Mother, walks with one hand to her cheek for instance. Some of the funniest parts of this production involved excellent mimicry and sashaying of the actors to indicate female roles.
Kupenga Kwa Hamlet was really one of the funniest and most entertaining version I’ve seen of the play. Whilst I do enjoy a traditional Hamlet it can’t be said to usually offer many laughs, as it focuses on death, murder, revenge and madness. This production was incredibly refreshing due to the irreverence and humour. I also enjoyed the pieces of song scattered throughout the performance which gave it greater depth. A very entertaining show!
Admittedly the performance is considerably shorter than an uncut Hamlet - at around 75 minutes. Don’t tell the Shakespearean purists out there but I actually much preferred this shorter, less intense and more entertaining version. It helps if you've seen the full production before or at least know the story, but this isn’t particularly essential as the imaginative and creative narration of this production effectively presents the main elements of the story.
The different characters are all assigned signature moves so the audience can easily tell which character is being depicted which is useful as the actors wear identical faded orange jumpsuits. The Queen, Hamlet’s Mother, walks with one hand to her cheek for instance. Some of the funniest parts of this production involved excellent mimicry and sashaying of the actors to indicate female roles.
Kupenga Kwa Hamlet was really one of the funniest and most entertaining version I’ve seen of the play. Whilst I do enjoy a traditional Hamlet it can’t be said to usually offer many laughs, as it focuses on death, murder, revenge and madness. This production was incredibly refreshing due to the irreverence and humour. I also enjoyed the pieces of song scattered throughout the performance which gave it greater depth. A very entertaining show!