Review: (Ottawa) Prince of Denmark (Fringe)

Hamlet: The Wonder Years
by Jim Murchison
@JimMurchison

So before Hamlet pondered whether to be or not to be he was already wondering whether the whole Prince thing was working for him. There are some things young Hamlet likes about being Prince. He likes the fact that no one can disagree with him because of the whole treason thing. You get to win every argument or duel you ever have. 

He also is quite smitten with the young Ophelia, but then again who isn’t. The bumbling Osric is infatuated totally and Laertes seems more than protective of his sister.

This is an Ottawa co production of Third Wall and 100 Watt a youth company of actors about 16 years old.

It’s an ambitious project that combines Shakespearian-like text by writer Michael Lesslie but with modern clothes, style and an interesting set of interlocking pieces and burlap scrim. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern for example were giggling, licorice chewing, lollipop sucking schoolgirls.

Only the academic Horatio seemed to be unaffected by the hormonal rages of puberty. It was an intriguing prequel directed by James Richardson that will probably serve the young actors very well and we will be seeing more of them down the road I’m sure.

runtime: approximately 60 minutes with no intermission
Prince of Denmark runs until June 30