Hamlet in Oxford (Field Trip 19/7/12)

I’m glad we saved the best for last! I loved seeing Hamlet at Oxford University. I didn’t know what to expect because Stratford-upon-avon was the only other British city outside London I had visited. Though Stratford was worth a visit because of its Shakespearean connection, it was not remarkably scenic. Oxford, on the other hand, was absolutely gorgeous. The university buildings were very regal and I was excited to see architecture that I recognized from the Harry Potter movies. Below is a photo I took of the beautiful Bodleian Library ceiling, which was reminiscent of the type of architecture used to depict Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies (I apologize for its poor quality - I wasn't given time to pause for pictures):

Before we went to the showing of Hamlet, my friends and I stopped at two historically significant pubs. We each got a pint at The Eagle and Child first. The Eagle and Child is famous because the Inklings met there in the early 20^th century. The Inklings was an Oxford writers’ group that included C.S. Lewis and J.R.R Tolkein. The pub has existed since the 17^th century. Even more amazing was the endurance of the second pub we visited, The Turf Tavern. It was well hidden by the surrounding buildings and had to be accessed through narrow alleyways. It dates all the way from the 13^th century! The front room had a very low beamed ceiling that dates from the 17^th century. It is now known as a “gastro-pub,” which means that it’s a pub that serves gourmet fare. I ordered a delicious duck and hoisin wrap with chips.

We attended a pre-show lecture by an Oxford professor. It was helpful to place this production of Hamlet within the context of the multitude of Hamlet productions throughout history. I found it interesting that the characters can be portrayed in so many different ways and that the play can be tweaked to resemble more of a farce or more of a tragedy. The play was held in the open-air Bodleian Quad within the Bodleian Library. The play was done in a traditional fashion to mimic the touring production of 17^th century England. I really enjoyed the addition of an opening song and dance as well as a closing song and dance. All of the players were able to sing, dance, and act, which was refreshing. At one point, Hamlet made a reference to The Turf Tavern, which was a humorous addition that spoke to the incredible age of my dinner spot. The set was small but the seats were limited so that all had a good view of the stage. Below is a photo of the rustic set:

I felt that this production was more of a farce than a tragedy. The intense emotions and personalities of the characters were comically exaggerated. But while the humor was emphasized, the most dramatic moments remained grave in earnest. The confrontation between Hamlet and his mother, Gertrude, was especially moving. I thought she was the best actor because of how well she portrayed Gertrude’s growing guilt and anguish throughout the play.  Each of the actors, with the exception of Hamlet, played more than one character throughout the play and also served as the stagehands. It made me wonder if that’s how it would have been done in Shakespeare’s day. Some of the changes to the original style of production included the female actors and the wardrobe, which seemed like a mixture of different period styles. The worst part about the production was being subjected to the intensifying chill in the air as the night wore on. Still, I felt very blessed to be able to attend a play in the Bodleian Quad. The production was a huge contrast to the extravagant, modernized production of The Tempest in Stratford. I liked being able to see a play done in a similar fashion to what audience of Shakespeare’s time would have experienced.