Repertory Philippines Hamlet Reviews

Philippine Daily Inquirer Gibbs Cadiz of Philippine Daily Inquirer deems that “the production as a whole displays an assured briskness, lightness and lucidity.” However, he finds Niccolo Manahan’s Hamlet lacking the “sort of manic, tragic streak that would render his Hamlet a truly melancholy Dane.” Nevertheless, Cadiz concludes, “Warts and all, it’s a watchable, honorable piece of work that adds heat to Rep’s welcome thaw.”

Click the City Walter Ang of Click the City offers another opinion regarding Manahan’s rendition of Hamlet. “His Hamlet is a more cold and calculating strategist the character is usually given credit for. In a way, we realize that he is as cruelly scheming as his uncle. Clearly, (director) Bitong shows us that there are no blacks and whites in the world she has created for Hamlet.”

Philippine Star Exie Abola, writes in the Arts & Culture section of the Philippine Star, “As for the performances, the standout is easily Cris Villonco’s Ophelia. I’ve always found Ophelia, the woman Hamlet loves who goes mad, to be a thankless role… Villonco’s Ophelia is girlish and sprightly, jostling her brother playfully before he leaves to continue his studies (he leaves her a fan knife as a souvenir), but also a dutiful daughter. She reluctantly complies with her father’s order that she stay away from Hamlet whom she loves, a decision that clearly tears at her. When they confront each other in the eavesdropping scene, they clinch briefly and desperately, and after Hamlet throws her to the ground Villonco goes into a moving soliloquy (“O what a noble mind is here o’erthrown!”) and shows Ophelia’s hold of her splintering heart to be increasingly fragile. When she finally walks onstage insane, twigs that she takes for flowers in one hand and a knife in the other, our hearts go out to this lost soul, one of several victims that Hamlet’s quest for justice will strew in his path.”

Business World Business World merits the play with, not one, but two reviews. From his 06 February 2008 post, columnist Juan Antonio Lanuza pronounces, “By dropping the costumes of the era, the lavish sets and the British accents, the play occurred in a nameless world stripped to its core and a son crying for revenge. This worked beautifully. One was riveted to one’s seat while watching this production.”

Business World reporter Johanna D. Poblete concurs, Hamlet “grab(s) the attention of an audience new or averse to Shakespeare, or perhaps so familiar with his plays that they are no longer gripped by the throat and shaken to the core by his tragedies.”

Blog Noisy! Noisy! Man! Noisy! Noisy! Man! Ade Magnaye is proof of this as he baldly states, “Shakespeare plays are recited in Old English, and I expected the sound of that would make me snore by the second act. Thankfully, the acting delivered, and even though Shakespeare plays were usually filled with dragging monologue and convoluted plots, I was riveted, taking in every detail. Awesome acting. Strip Hamlet down to its bare essentials they did.”

Blog Laurganism Lauren Dado of Laurganism advises Shakespeare virgins, “So first timers - you don’t have to be afraid of falling asleep in your chair or being completely lost in translation if you’ve never encountered a word of Shakespeare in your life. The actors will make it easy for you to follow the plot all the way to its tragic conclusion.”

Philippine Entertainment Portal Glaiza Seguia of Summit Media’s Philippine Entertainment Portal and YES! Magazine gives the details, “The stage itself is a story, thanks to set designer Denis Lagdameo. It is otherworldly with real dirt, suspended smoke, and lighting that half hides everyone in sinister-like shadow. Denis is also responsible for the very real weapons from huge machetes to katar dagger made of blunted steel that weighs as heavy as it sounds during the fight scenes. The cast donned in elaborate Faust Peneyra’s costume of leather and faux fur was so beautifully anti-Shakespeare that you would think it’s a TV fantaserye.”

Blog Fritzified Fritz Tentativa of Fritzified admits to still being awestruck, and recommends, “If you want to at least see a Shakespeare play in this lifetime and want something that won’t bore you out of your wits, then this show is for you. I’m not Shakespeare savvy but I totally dug this shiz.”

Female Network Exclusive Video Interviews Watch exclusive interviews of director Ana Abad Santos-Bitong, and lead actors Niccolo Manahan, Cris Villonco, Joel Trinidad and Francis Makil on Female Network

How to Get Tickets Check out this extraordinary play on:

Date: 16 February 2008 (Saturday)
Time: 8pm
Venue: OnStage at Greenbelt 1

Net Ticket prices (inclusive of a Ticketworld 3% surcharge):
Silver Section Php 360.50 (Free Seating)
Gold Section Php 566.50 (Reserved Seating)

To purchase tickets, please call the Ticketworld Head Office at 891.9999 and buy from the block Code: Hamlet-LL (so that you’re eligible for the raffle).

Ticketworld outlets are in major National Bookstore branches, Ayala Malls and Robinsons Malls. For details, please click here.

For any questions and/or concerns, you may contact me (Lorna Lopez) thru:
(Globe) 0917.9256505
(Sun) 0922.3875729
(email)
cranegoddesscorp@gmail.com
llornalopez@gmail.com

Photo Credit: Jojit Lorenzo

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