Critical Blog 1

While it is unfortunate that I was unable to attend the Bell Shakespeare Performance of Hamlet this year, I was fortunate enough to see their 2017 rendition of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Despite seeing the performance 3 years ago, it left a lasting impression as a result of the success of the play. I clearly remember being engaged the whole performance despite knowing the sequence of events. This level of engagment can only be achieved when there is harmony between actors, the set and various thematic aspects. The actors themselves embodied their respective characters to the point where the lines between acting and reality became blurred. Furthermore, each scene was given its own unique atmosphere and design in order to heighten the audiences experience. Throughout the play not only did the sound effects compliment the scenes, but the lighting and tone of the actors voice also enhanced our viewing exponentionally. Overall I felt that the production and execution of the Bell Shakespeare’s performance of Hamlet was exceptional. This is due to the fact that each aspect of the performance was meticulously thought out and rehearsed in order to create a cohesive and engaging performance. In addition, the fact that after each performance the actors and directors stayed back for question time was the icing on the cake. This shows just how much they care about the performance they are presenting as well as their audiences enjoyment of their production.