Yet another unsatisfying Ophelia

Bron-tay, I would have to disagree to an extent regarding this Ophelia. I DO AGREE that it is very difficult to pull off a convincing and fully fleshed out Ophelia. More often portrayals fall back on cliches, usually Victorian cliches - the crazy, scared of her own shadow wallflower, as this production did.

The reason I say 'disagree to an extent' was the very first scene between Ophelia and Laertes was so natural and well done but her remaining scenes fell back on tried and true Ophelia cliches. The play is obviously set in present day and Ophelia appears in modern dress in the first scene with Laertes. I thought "Wonderful, they're going to present her as a modern woman in the context of a forbidden love". Her exchange with brother and then more resigned interaction with Polonius were totally on the mark.

Alas though, the very next scene with Polonius forcing her to read Hamlet's letter, she is dressed in something that looks like its out of the 1950's and its from that point on its the Ophelia that everybody knows. I would have really liked to have seen the Ophelia from the first scene continue and explore her relationship to Hamlet. Exactly what are they to each other?

The "Mad scenes" were a mixed bag where she played the crazy ok and even said a pointed line to Claudius "We know what we are" as if she's knows he murdered the king but then gets all sing songy with "Up he rose and donned his clothes". When I directed a production of the show I interpreted that song to be a summary of her relationship with Hamlet, not just to blow through it and really FEEL what those lines were saying.

I think the closest to a good portrayal of Ophelia on screen has been Kate Winslet. You have to show both a backbone and a propensity towards being fragile, otherwise the character has no place to go.