The Rude Mechanicals’ creative interpretation of the Shakespeare classic, Hamlet, was refreshing. It was done at the beautiful Mendelssohn Theatre, where the actors did not even need microphones. I have never seen a Shakespeare play performed live and I am glad to say that it was a wonderful experience.
The play was set to the 1960s-based show, Mad Men, and it was expressed the importance of sharp suits for men and elegant dresses for women. This also reflected the uptight personalities of some of the characters in Hamlet, such as Claudius (Hamlet’s uncle and stepfather) and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (Hamlet’s deceiving school friends). I was a bit skeptical of the thought of Hamlet in a totally different era and location, but the interpretation was perfect.
The sounds the play was set to were interesting too because there were certain themes for different characters, like the ghost of Hamlet’s father. The set was brilliant as well because it really captured the essence of a big city and it was versatile for the needs of each scene. The director’s note explains the concept of her idea very well, mentioning that most of the characters in Hamlet are held to certain standards and they try to follow the norms and that is why it was possible to relate the play to Mad Men, a show where the characters seem perfect and successful to society, but are crumbling within. The character Hamlet was portrayed a bit differently than my impression of him from reading the play. In the Mad Men setting, he seemed suave and confident, whereas I always thought of him as timid and a bit awkward in some regards. However, Hamlet’s lines in the play have a very confident air since he often goes against the status quo and is not afraid to wittily insult characters that do not understand his veiled criticisms. In Shakespeare’s play, Ophelia, who could be classified as Hamlet’s love interest, is used as a tool for those concerned with Hamlet to observe his behaviors. Therefore, the Mad Men version of Ophelia was great because women were seen as objects in the setting of the show, but they still play vital roles in the plot of the story. So, although Ophelia was used by Polonius, Claudius, and Gertrude, she was also necessary to unravel the mysteries of Hamlet’s emotions. Her deterioration over the course of the play was wonderfully portrayed by the actress (Jacqueline Toboni). The actor who played Hamlet (Kris Reilly) was not afraid to use his body to capture the confidence and strangeness of Hamlet and so he did a great job doing actions that could make other players seem uncomfortable. Overall, the idea was solid and the play turned out very well. This is a must see if you are a fan of Shakespeare or want to see the interesting concept of Mad Men versus Hamlet.
Amongst the hustle and bustle of a busy college life, it seems as though there’s hardly time to breathe. So, when the moment strikes and there’s a minute to spare, why not venture to the University of Michigan Museum of Art? Certain places on campus such as the art museum and graduate stacks provide the perfect temporary escape. Environments such as these enable students to loose themselves and to momentarily disconnect from the whirlwind of academics. The UMMA encourages students to engage in something cultural, but proves to be more energizing than mind draining. Who knows how many times a day students pass the art museum on their way to class, glance into the glass box that is The UMMA Projects, and wonder what in the world is in there. After a long day of back-to-back classes, a sudden calm awaits by simply wandering the gallery stalls and taking a few minutes sitting down, or rather standing around, Mark Di Suvero’s current exhibit: Tabletops.
