To a Helix in Elsinore

GRÁINNE LOUGHRAN, Culture journalist

It’s safe to say that Shakespeare is not the most liked section of the Leaving Cert course for English students around the country, but after the performance of Hamlet in the Helix by Second Age Theatre Company I think that it has definitely grown in most of their estimations. The Company’s enigmatic and refreshing performance of one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, while not without it’s faults, is generally acted well and gives a good illustration of life at Elsinore and the trials and tribulations of young Hamlet himself, bringing to life an element of the English course which is so often labelled as drab and boring by students and parents alike.

The two standout performances of the show were undoubtedly by Hamlet and Claudius, played by Conor Madden and Frank McCusker respectively. The Dublin actor’s portrayal of the troubled young Dane is well executed and without technical fault, and any lapses in performance will undoubtedly be ironed out as he progresses in his career. He depicts Hamlet’s madness very well and most definitely makes him feel real to us, and while he is not overwhelming in this, one of his maiden voyages, Mr Madden is certainly a star on the rise and one to watch out for in the future. The supporting cast of Gertrude, Polonius and Horatio provide a steady backing to the two main characters and as a whole, the cast work very well in harmony with each other.  Frank McCusker in the role of Claudius brings the part to life and manages to keep up an exciting persona throughout. His entrance in the second scene of the play is thoroughly well executed as his opening speech is addressed to an unseen crowd of people from a window, with his back to us. This first view of Claudius is almost reminiscent of Hitler, and an excellently calculated piece of production and directing by Aoife Spillane Hinks.

Other aspects of the production are not quite so well thought out. For one thing, the set is moved by the actors themselves- in one case, while the actor is in the middle of saying his lines. This jarring disregard for the need to stay in character is no fault of the actors themselves, but breaks up what is otherwise a very smooth and unfettered show. The set itself is very well made, morphing easily from castle to courtyard but is obviously a cumbersome prop when one is trying to act.

Another partial downfall was that of the costume department, which clothed the actors in modern attire rather than the traditional garments. While in most cases this is not a glaring oversight, Ophelia’s red dress leaves much to be desired as she appears to have been shopping in River Island. Unfortunately, this is also true of her acting. Anna Shiels McNamee is unconvincing in her role as Hamlet’s suitor and does not equal Madden at all in terms of talent, although she does improve slightly in the second half of the play.

These mild faults brought what was otherwise a thoroughly enjoyable show down slightly in my own opinion, but overall Hamlet in the Helix is a production well worth going to see. The addition of Dublin accents to a couple of scenes adds a more modern sense of humour to the play and as many of the other teenage girls in the audience will be able to tell you, the sword fight between Hamlet and Laertes at the end is a very enjoyable, if  slightly anticlimactic ending. Adding elements of modern life while managing to retain the elegance of the past is a difficult feat, but by and large Second Age Theatre Company appears to have done Hamlet more than justice.