American Kevin O’Day (now artistic director of Ballett Mannheim in Mannheim, Germany) choreographed the ballet Hamlet based on Shakepeare’s play for the Stuttgart Ballet in 2008 shortly after the death of his father. He states at the pre-Ballet Talk Opening Night of the The National Ballet of Canada production, “It’s addressing the father that’s within us – your father that you can’t escape who’s genetically printed on you and in you.”
Hamlet trailer
Although our tortured Danish prince hero – danced admirably on opening night by Guillaume Côté – wrestles throughout the ballet with avenging his father’s death, he is also struggling with his own mental and emotional survival. His mother Gertrude has just married his Uncle Claudius, now King, who the prince discovers was the one who murdered his father. While Hamlet is deeply disturbed and drowning in angst, his beloved mother and stepfather are engaging in celebratory pas de deux that border on dirty dancing. A quiet mourning period for this widow, not quite!
Stephanie Hutchison and Heather Ogden
Hamlet himself vacillates between brooding off to the side of the stage and flirting with his secret love Ophelia, portrayed valiantly by Heather Ogden. Their pas de deux are intense and intricate; initially loving, sexy and heated, while later tormented and possibly a glimpse into Rihanna and Chris Brown’s former love life.
A wonderful unexpected moment or two of comic relief during this very dark ballet occurs when Hamlet keeps trying unsuccessfully to hide Polonius’ body; it’s very charmingly done and reminiscent of the classic film Weekend at Bernie’s.
Guillaume Côté with Artists of the Ballet
Stephanie Hutchinson and Jirí Jelinek (who reprises the role he originated in Stuttgart) very effectively portray the royal newlyweds, Ogden nails it as the vulnerable ingenue who slowly goes insane, and Robert Stephen and Christopher Stalzer are simply brilliant as the prince’s childhood best buds Rosencrantz and Guildenstern who later are revealed to be turncoats.
The star of the night is without a doubt Côté, who is on stage for more than three hours. The role of Hamlet will be played on alternative nights by Robert Stephen and Piotr Stanczyk.
New York composer John King created a score that is very twangy and disturbing, keeping with the theme of this story but one that admittedly gets quite plodding at times. Nonetheless, it’s emotionally raw with influences of jazz and techno effects.
The ballet is more narrative than symbolic and would have likely benefited from heightened drama at times, particularly during the murder and wedding sequences. Yet, overall, the performance was very fluid and cutting edge.
Hamlet is playing at the Four Seasons Centre until June 10. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the box office at 416-345-9595 (local) or 1-866-345-9595 (long distance).
Credits: Hamlet trailer via the National Ballet of Canada’s YouTube channel; first photo by Cylla von Tiedmann; second image by Vincent von Tiedmann
