Ah, Ashland. I came here for culture, and I got culture, and then some. For me, this was the high-school trip I missed out on. My school organized a yearly trip to Ashland at the beginning of the year to take in some Shakespeare (and go on a really long trip away from home; I think it was for a week). Back then, I was the typical math nerd who really didn’t like English class. As the year progressed, I started to take an appreciation in Hamlet, which was what my English class was reading that year. It also coincided with Kenneth Branagh’s verbatim film adaptation that I somehow endured when I watched it in the theatre.
Dan Donohue as Hamlet in a promo poster for OSF
Evidently, fate must have stepped in, as the Oregon Shakespeare Festival was presenting Hamlet in this, the 75th anniversary of the first productions held in Ashland. And for this small town to celebrate such a milestone is something great indeed. This year’s festival produces 11 plays (half of which aren’t Shakespearean in origin) in rotation in three theatres. What I missed while I was there was the outdoor Elizabethan Stage, which doesn’t open until June. You can bet that I’m coming back to experience that.
The OSF production of Hamlet is given a modern setting, and I think it’s quite effective, similar to the Royal Shakespeare Company’s recent production. The OSF version modernizes it further, with the play-within-a-play given a hip-hop context. (I personally can’t wait for the full version, using the original Shakespearean text!) Maybe it’s to give the primarily student audience something to latch on, but it still works.
In addition to Hamlet, I took in a staging of Pride and Prejudice. As a fan of Jane Austen, this was another one I couldn’t miss while I was here. This adaptation was enjoyable; the plot flowed rather nicely, and the simple staging (only chairs and a piano rotating in and out) contributed to it. Sitting at front row corner, I did get to see it up close, but at a not-so-desirable angle. On the other hand, I could see some of the actors’ spittle flying as they spoke; that’s probably to be expected when they have to project their voices inside the theatre.
As I mentioned, Ashland and the OSF were quite fun to experience and I definitely recommend a visit.
