h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I saw a live college production of Hamlet at Rhodes. It was very good - very lively and energetic, with a youthful cast. The actors wore modern clothes, but spoke the classic Shakespearean text. The staging was "in the round", with seating on all sides of the central action. The production was rather unusual in that it had a beautiful live guitar accompaniment. Some of the characters even sung some of their lines. When was the last time you saw Hamlet with a guitar, hehe? Very unusual, but it worked very well. My only criticism of the production was that some plot concerning Rosencratnz and Guildenstern was left out. Here is some of what the program had to say:

"Our world has changed drastically since we started rehearsals. The questions Shakespeare asked are being played out in the world...the questions of revenge, violence, and war.

If you kill someone I love, may I kill someone you love?
Does that prove how much I loved or how much I hate?
Does it make me a hero or a coward?

What role does theatre play during these turbulent times? 'To hold the mirror up to nature;' to remind us of our humanity.

See us as we are.
Hear us as we are.
This is not your traditional Hamlet.
We have laughter and fun. We have music and prat falls.
There are no traditional costumes.
But there are questions."

I saw a 'community play' several years ago where Hamlet's costume was a big green garbage bag and a pair of black tights. the funniest bit was when it became apparent that no-one had thought to make or by a face skull so this dickhead comes out and does his famous monologue holding a rubik's cube!!!

MadHamish
(I laughed sooo hard I spilt milk from my nose, and I wasn't even drinking any)

Ewww, a garbage bag for a costume, and a rubik's cube for a skull? I don't think I would like such a production. I mean, I'm all for novel interpretations, but come on!

MadHamish wonder what Shakes would think?
His milk spew~ith onward.

JEllen ~ The questions stay the same, hmmm Hope people keep asking them, along with some new ones!

Hi Abbi! *waves*

I also have seen a version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Starlight Express" performed by the clients of a prominent Melbourne Spastic Society. It was at a fund raising evening (See! I do care for my community!). Now, not wishing to seem insensitive to the feelings of others, but, I don't think they thought it through really! People dressed up as trains on rollerskates shooting off into each other, the scenery and the crowd!! The program was spontaniously shortened to four minutes of acting and two hours of paramedic attention!!

MadHamish
(Still feeling guilty laughing!)