Response to Lantern Theater performance

Hamlet was not my favorite play, but The Lantern Theater’s performance was a decent
one. The reason I say decent and not extravagant or appalling is for various reasons.

When I first walked into the theatre I was a little taken back by the set and it’s structure. My first reaction was what in the world is going on, but as the play started I liked how the actor’s were coming out from all different angles and were right in front of me. I felt as though they were performing for me. I liked how the lights were coming on and off and lighting different spots of the set or actors.

The beginning of the play started off as I expected or pictured it would. Everyone was dressed as I pictured. Even Hamlet’s outfit was what I thought it would be, because I always saw Hamlet as a rebel, so I expected him to dress more dark and different from everyone else. The person who threw me totally off and rubbed me the wrong way was Ophelia. Ophelia had a J C Penny’s Easter dress and a CVS pharmacy headband on, when her own father and brother had on robes and vest made from royal fabrics. Before I saw the play I already didn’t care for Ophelia, so her standing out just enhanced my dislike for. Not only was it the way Ophelia dressed, but the was she acted was getting under my skin. She kept whining and was acting like a child. There is a possibility that I might be one minded because I am basing this off my interpretation of the play and the Hamlet movie I was shown, where Ophelia was this older mature women, so I expected her to be that way in this play. But I also feel because she wasn’t mature is the reason that led her to insanity and suicide.

The play that I thought was striking was Hamlet. This Hamlet was cunning, passionate, and sarcastic. I like this characteristic because I can relate to them because these are traits of people I surround myself with. It also puts a twist on Hamlet that is modern even with the original text being said. It was helpful to my understanding of what was going on. Hamlet kept my attention so I wasn’t bored which is important to the audience.

Hamlet wasn’t the best play I ever experienced, but not the worst either. Though I was entertained, I will never like Hamlet because of the story line and the deceit that it based around.