The Stage

Hamlet

Published Wednesday 10 February 2010 at 12:10 by Catherine Usher

In a Glasgow underworld setting where the men wear long coats and the women are decked out in skyscraper heels, brooding Hamlet takes a little while to warm to.

Rather baby-faced and ever so slightly whiny, it is only when Grant O’Rourke in the title role starts injecting the character with a little mischief and humour that his portrayal of the haunted prince clicks into place.

Clever use is made of the opening funeral scene, which by the cover of an umbrella, changes suddenly into the marriage between Gertrude (Valerie Gogan) and her late husband’s brother Claudius (David Tarkenter).

The contemporary setting, however, is sometimes rather clumsily shoehorned into the Shakespearean text, particularly the pumping gangster music played during many of the scene changes.

But any shortcomings are completely overshadowed by the sublime talents of the entire cast. Emily Jane Boyle in particular is magnificent as the tragic Ophelia, at first striking in her thigh-skimming dresses and confident attitude and later, poignantly broken and vacant.

Ali Craig is also fantastic in a trio of roles, most enjoyably the gruff, outraged Laertes.

Tarkenter is a suitably sinister Claudius and Gogan’s Gertrude encompasses perfectly motherly, nurturing qualities as well as her naive tendencies and fleeting selfishness.

Making good use of a stark setting to contrast nicely with the many colourful characters and well-known, poetic speeches, Rapture Theatre’s production of Hamlet is all about showcasing the company’s talent. Fortunately for all, there is an abundance of it.

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