Great Hamlet — alas no audience

Feb 28 2008 By Graham Fraser

DAVID Keller is a very talented man.

But the good people of Hamilton don’t know it.

His wonderful performance in Hamlet: Cut to the Bone was only captured by around 20 people in the cavernous Hamilton Town House.

It begs the question why the show was held there in the first place. Now Hamlet is not everyone’s cup of tea, but surely there is somewhere local which is more appropriate for a play of this genre to be performed?

But as all good actors know, playing to any audience — be it 20 or 2000 — has to be with commitment, drive, and effort.

And Keller is a fine actor.

Performing all the characters in Simon Rae’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s dark masterpiece, the Royal Shakespeare Company actor excelled in bringing the script to vibrant life.

To refresh those readers who think Hamlet is a fine cigar, this play is a tragedy set in Denmark.

It tells the story of Prince Hamlet and his plot to exact revenge on his uncle Claudius, who has murdered Hamlet’s father the King before taking the throne and marrying Hamlet’s mother.

From our protagonist’s madness to his rage, Keller brought a fresh, skeletal face to this work.

The highlight of the performance was at a pivotal moment in the play.

Hamlet kills Polonius, the trusted advisor of Claudius.

Polonius’ son Laertes then returns to Denmark to find and kill Hamlet.

In a full interpretation of the fight between Laertes and Hamlet, several actors would play the different roles.

So it was quite something to see Keller have a sword fight with himself while acting out the other characters surrounding the mêlée.

What a shame it was enjoyed by so few.