Once upon a time... Stop. One should not start a story that way; it's cliche. Looking back over 200+ posts and nearly eleven years, though, gives this author pause for reflection, and that pause leads to a new post in a different direction.
When I began this blog over a decade ago, it was an outlet for writing about all things Hamlet (and Shakespeare, more generally). I didn't imagine that there would be many readers out there; a not-terribly-well-advertised blog about Hamlet is not exactly anything earth-shattering. It was an enjoyable reason to go to the theatre, to see a play, to read something new, to write. And for many of those many posts, it was very enjoyable!
For a time, there was not much relating to Hamlet or Shakespeare that I would not undertake. My bookshelves are still overflowing with various Hamlet resources. There is quite a collection of Playbills in my apartment. Hamlet took me all over for performances--some excellent, some dreadful. I took them all in cheerfully with an eye (and pen and pad) to recounting them.
I guess after a while, though, one's tastes change. Be it books, films, music: one looks for something new and different. Certainly the frequency of blog posts waned over the years. One can only read so much before one starts to run out of titles (and wants to read something new). The opportunities to see live performances, Hamlet or not, also decreased--the normal progression of things as well as pandemic-induced issues.
All of this was brought home quite obviously when I returned to the University of Rochester's International Theatre Program to see their production of Othello during the recently concluded spring semester. They were responsible for an enjoyable Hamlet many years ago (see 10/14/13 and 10/20/13 posts). Plus, there was a new theatre built on campus, and I looked forward to seeing it. Things looked promising.
I arrived at the theatre early and spent some time in the lobby reading through the Playbill. The first cloud appeared on the horizon. This production was a modern adaptation with a female in the role of Iago, recast as a lesbian military officer. I nearly walked out at that point, but I restrained myself. The ticket was already bought, after all. The evening's show ended up being a sell-out (it was opening night). As we filed into the theatre proper, I took in the sights--there weren't any. The new theatre is a very utilitarian black box, with exposed fixtures and retractable risers for seating. There was no set to speak of, just various props moved on and tossed off as necessary.
The play was not terribly interesting (to be polite). The cast gave a valiant attempt, but it was not reaching this audience member at all. In the early days of the blog, I might have stuck it out in the name of Internet journalism. Nowadays, though, it is not worth the effort. At the interval, I bailed. I know how it all turns out, or I could always reread my post from 2/14/21 to find out.
Another blogging opportunity arose with the broadcast of Hamlet on public television last week. Apparently it was a recorded performance of the recent NYC Shakespeare in the Park production. A three-hour show beginning at 9 p.m. is stretching things, but I gave it a shot...until I saw it. A modern African-American retelling of the tale opening with a casket covered by a U.S. flag and a picture of a U.S. serviceman on a house. Gospel music. What? That was enough. Change the channel, watch something else. I did flip back a bit later to check in during a commercial break on what I was watching, and I was met with the player performing his speech as a song, I think. I didn't stay around long enough to find out.
A recent (and well-deserved) vacation took me to England for a group tour of English cathedrals. One of our evenings was spent in Stratford-upon-Avon. It was wonderful to be back there and to wander over to Holy Trinity Church (closed for Evensong unfortunately). During the course of the evening, one of the other tour members and I chatted about dramatic productions. (Our hotel was directly across the street from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.) He said that he used to enjoy attending theatre shows, but in recent times everything seemed to be too modernized, too controversial, trying too hard to fit into some movement. I could not have agreed more wholeheartedly! We commiserated as I told him about the Othello that I attended for half. If we were able to have that conversation now, I could add the PBS Hamlet.
So what happens to this blog? I'm not sure. There may be occasion to get to a theatre, to catch a film, or to read a book, and if so a post will follow. Life being what it is though (short), selectivity is a good thing.
Of course, what would a trip to Stratford be without a photo? A quiet moment of reflection indeed!
