Teen Hamlet... the Rest is Silence
Synetic Theatre, April 10,
2015
A clear narrative, strong physicality and intense
dedication are what Washingtonians have come to expect from the professionals
at Synetic Theatre in their tradition of silent productions (mostly) by
Shakespeare. Last night, I enjoyed a performance from the Synetic Teens and I
experienced no less. In the short span of 90 minutes, Teen Hamlet… The Rest is Silence was one of the clearest and most
enjoyable versions of this play that I have had the pleasure of viewing on
stage.
Hamlet is arguably one of Shakespeare most famous
tragedies, included in the syllabises of many public high schools and colleges
across the country. The tale of the depressed Prince of Denmark, his adulterous
mother and Murderous Uncle is famous for the long soliloquies. It’s hard to
imagine that a play containing the line “Words, words, words,” could be done
without any and still be understandable, but Synetic, through their use of
precise, clear physicality proves that it can be done. With the direction of
company member Alex Mills, the Synetic Teen Company bring to the stage a
production that presents a clear narrative even without prior knowledge of
Hamlet. However, if one does know the play particularly well, the choreography
of Kathy Gorden is absolutely bursting with Shakespeare’s famous script.
As an audience member, this was the first time that I
found myself rooting for Claudius and Gertrude. Richard Bew, as the new King,
possesses a stage presence and commitment on stage that is rare even in
seasoned professionals and I found myself wanting him to get away with his
horrible crimes because I enjoyed watching him so much. His Partner-in-Crime
(literally) was no different; Maura O’Reilly portrayed one of the strongest
Gertrudes that I’ve seen, and portrayed the duality of a torn conscious between
her son’s grief and supporting her lover’s ambition with moving clarity.
I have never thought of it this way before, but with these two actors, I
actually understood Gertrude and Claudius as a true power couple.
Sean Silvia as Hamlet held a vital role in this
production and through his physicality and performance, portrayed a complex
Hamlet. Through the unerring and very strong support of a dedicated ensemble,
Hamlet’s madness is made clear after the death of his father with the jerky,
almost spider-like movements of the dancers surrounding him. I was a little sad
that he lacked a Horatio, but the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern twins (Ward and
Will LeHardy) more than made up the loss with their comedic demise on the
ship. The Players Queen (Ana
Tsikurishvili) and King (Annette Hasnas) were also very charming and comedic in
their roles in Hamlet’s staged drama – I especially enjoyed the use of masks!
I’m not someone who ever stands at the end of a
performance, I think the standing ovation is overused and rarely earned, but last night I stood as I applauded. In 90 minutes, Synetic’s Teen Company gave a
truly exceptional performance of a very complex play. The commitment and
dedication that I saw last night drew me in and delivered one the most
understandable and succinct performance of this tragedy that I’ve seen on
stage. Every single member of that ensemble should be proud of what they are
doing, I hope, for the sake of Washington Theatre, that they continue
performing, and often.
