We all know the story. Hamlet wants revenge on the death of his father, his uncle marries his mother to become king, Ophelia is (literally) madly in love… Hamlet has had many incarnations, adaptations and modernisations, but none as original and fun as Alex Silverman, Timothy Knapman and Ed Jaspers’ version.
‘Hamlet! The musical’ comes packed with laugh-a-minute jokes, some extremely clever tunes, and an amazingly imaginative set design. Best of all, though, are the actors themselves. Jack Shalloo is a great Hamlet, his clothes accentuating the ditsy demeanor the character has. Virge Gilchrist and Jess Robinson are superb as Gertrude and Ophelia (and other characters they also play), while Phil Cole as Polonius and Mark Inscoe as Claudius get some big laughs with their purposely over-dramatic performances. Most laughs do come from Stephen Webb’s facial expressions and gestures as he embodies an array of different characters (including Laertes). Best of all, though are the performance when they interact with each other, demonstrating flawless comedy timing and acting skills.
In a show that is constantly amazing, a highlight comes from the troupe of actors that visit Elsinore, the play within the actual play being a five minute non-stop hilarious segment. There are even tears of laughter amongst the audience.
‘Hamlet! The Musical’ might very well be the best show in 2010’s Fringe Festival, a constant feet tapping dance to the iambic pentameter.
5/5 
Adrian G. Velazquez
(3 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5)
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