The set was very simple: some stairs, arches, a tile floor and curtains that could be drawn as necessary. Later, a portion of the stage was opened to serve as a grave. The costuming was traditional Elizabethan period dress--frills, neck ruffles and even a costume for Guildenstern that looked strangely Mayflower pilgrim-esque.
The text was edited to fit into a running time of roughly two and one half hours. Ophelia and Laertes' conversation prior to his departure for France seemed shortened. Hamlet's directions to the players were lengthier than is typical while the dumb-show was removed entirely from the play within a play. There were no references to pirates, and the "How all occasions..." soliloquy was removed. The conversation between the gravediggers and Hamlet's conversation with Osric were each shortened as well. Hamlet and Horatio's discussion of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's death was included, although earlier remarks about being "hoist with one's petar" had been removed. All told, the editing was sensible and did not detract from the play. In a talk-back with the cast after the show, they were asked about the editing. The version was edited with the intent of streamlining the second half of the play and driving the action in more of a straight line. Omission of the "How all occasions..." soliloquy was based on precedent--the First Folio.
One noteworthy aspect of the play was the high level of humor. While I have seen many live versions of Hamlet, I cannot recall as much audience laughter as in this particular production. The "too, too solid flesh" soliloquy was broken up with some laughs, as was the "rogue and peasant slave" soliloquy. At times, the humor seemed to mock the scene. For instance, when Polonius was discussing the specialties of the players, Hamlet hit his head repeatedly against a nearby wall. It was funny but a bit over the top. During the play within a play, Hamlet discussed country matters with Ophelia--accent on the first syllable of "country." That particular scene was as bawdy as I recall ever having seen it. The subject of the humor level was discussed during the talk-back. It was a conscious decision by the cast (Hamlet in particular) and the director. The idea was to give the audience a chance to take a breath and to enjoy some of Shakespeare's wit. As one cast member added, injecting humor to lighten the mood made the horror that followed even more horrible.
Two scenes are worth mentioning as particularly exceptional. The nunnery scene was very graphic, and it included Hamlet spitting into the face of Ophelia. As Ophelia tried to leave, Polonius could be heard yelling "No." Hamlet, even more enraged, threw back the curtains to find no one there. The later scene depicting Ophelia's madness also was notable. It was no minor melancholy, but rather a quite pronounced break.
There were numerous other peculiarities to this production. The ghost (a very young one at that) announces that he was killed with hemlock, not hebanon. When the ghost beckons Hamlet to "Swear it," he is the only one to hear it, playing up the notion of auditory hallucinations. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter while flipping a coin, a nod to Stoppard's play the following evening. Hamlet's deed of killing Polonius (played as a very doddering old man) was especially bloody; the sponge and water were desperately needed to wipe up the mess on Hamlet's face and arms. When the ghost appeared in Gertrude's chamber, she was able to see it but did not let on to Hamlet that it was so. This was revealed in the talk-back by the actress who played Gertrude, and it came (seemingly) as a surprise to the actor who played Hamlet. Hamlet was "spent" rather than "fat" in Gertrude's estimation of his being "out of breath" during the duel.
The duel scene was well choreographed, even if the stabbing deaths were a bit obviously sword-through-armpit gags. The play faded to black just as a very martial Fortinbras enters to assume the throne.
All in all, this was a well-acted, well-produced, very enjoyable Hamlet. The best part was that it was only the first night of two plays. But that is to come...
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