Hamletmachine
Walk into a small, austere room where every object is tinted a ghostly, piercing, just-entered-the-morgue yellow. This is the focal point of intensity before the seismic waves of social condemnation to follow in Heiner Müller’s Hamletmachine, directed by Marcus Stern at the A.R.T. in Boston. What makes this production so intriguing is it’s minimalist approach to decoding such an inherently complicated piece of work for the audience. In particular, the choice to use music as a direct indication of emotions creates a powerful connection between the audience and the meaning behind the characters. As any film scorer can easily testify to, the songs help mold a completely different experience and understanding of the scenes than the convoluted textual rants that hold far less intensity on their own.
The most poignant and memorable display of musical dominance in the storytelling comes in the last scene of Hamletmachine. Whereas the original Hamlet comes to a close with a giant spotlight on the inevitability of the death so extensively contemplated throughout the play, this production of Hamletmachine concluded with an emphasis on the life within us all that survives even the worst of traumas. An emotionally battered Ophelia sits at a table in front of orange walls while Hamlet sits beside her and gives her the space she needs to regain feeling for her numbed humanity. Hope breeds in the voice of Sufjan Stevens as he fills the emptiness with the words, “I can see a lot of life in you”, which reverberate through the room as Hamlet’s thoughts. His unspoken truth to Ophelia. Almost a plea for another chance at what could have been their life together. The experience is transcendental.
If you’re wondering how you can re-create this moment for yourself, checkout the 8th page of:
http://www.efn.org/~dredmond/Hamletmachine.PDF
Read it while listening to “The Dress Looks Nice On You” by Sufjan Stevens. (off of his Seven Swans album)
The most poignant and memorable display of musical dominance in the storytelling comes in the last scene of Hamletmachine. Whereas the original Hamlet comes to a close with a giant spotlight on the inevitability of the death so extensively contemplated throughout the play, this production of Hamletmachine concluded with an emphasis on the life within us all that survives even the worst of traumas. An emotionally battered Ophelia sits at a table in front of orange walls while Hamlet sits beside her and gives her the space she needs to regain feeling for her numbed humanity. Hope breeds in the voice of Sufjan Stevens as he fills the emptiness with the words, “I can see a lot of life in you”, which reverberate through the room as Hamlet’s thoughts. His unspoken truth to Ophelia. Almost a plea for another chance at what could have been their life together. The experience is transcendental.
If you’re wondering how you can re-create this moment for yourself, checkout the 8th page of:
http://www.efn.org/~dredmond/Hamletmachine.PDF
Read it while listening to “The Dress Looks Nice On You” by Sufjan Stevens. (off of his Seven Swans album)