Hamlet @ Kennedy Center Opera House

I imagine the Kennedy Center as the "National" theatre. So when it comes to a show in the US (not musical theatre for which I imagine broadway still rates numero uno), there is a certain prestige in attending it at the Kennedy Center. We made our first trip there Friday night to see the operatic version of Hamlet. The playbill informed us that this was a French opera written in the late 19th century and admits right off the bat that English audiences have had difficulty accepting it. I can understand the sentiment as what makes Shakespeare such an experience is the language, especially realizing it was written 500 years ago yet still resonates with wit and meaning today. With an operatic version, and especially one done in French, you really get none of that. So the piece is reduced to the story and the artistic quality of the musical experience. That is to say you need to actually like opera. And I am not sure that I do. I find opera in general to technical. It always seems that the vocalists, especially baritones and sopranos, are kind of faking it. I mean it is not natural to sing in those keys consistently so when they do, it just seems like they are trying too hard.

I should say something about the production more broadly. The set was cool. I liked the use of a very large cast, providing real depth to some of the crowd scenes. I liked the interpretation of the theft of the crown by using the usurping of power in the post WWII era. Loved the final scene that merged the funeral of Ophelia with the dual and used guns to be consistent with the era.

As for the characters, I thought Hamlet was pretty strong. I enjoyed the queen, whose matronly figure fit right into my idea of an operatic star. Ophelia is given a much more starring role in this production, making it much more of a romance, and I was ot thrilled with this approach.

Overall, I think going to the opera is an experience that mixes well with our nightlife repertoire... just so long as we only go every couple of years.