My overall impression
I didn’t know what to expect when I attended O, Fallen One. I knew the character of Ophelia had often polarized people in the past, who either thought she was a looney victim, or a feminist who refused to compromise her principles, especially when it came to love. What I found from this piece was lyrical, creative theatre combining the wonderful language of Shakespeare with a parallel modern storyline of a woman in much the same place as the original Ophelia character. The actors use movement effectively to show the characters’ inner states of mind, and the scene where Ophelia is being swallowed by the water was especially creatively staged and moving. It’s a really interesting take on the classic tale of Hamlet, and if I had any complaint at all, it was that I wish there were more — more of the modern storyline that helped to explain the character of Ophelia, and perhaps more of an intertwining of the two stories throughout. Perhaps the creative team behind this play will consider making it a longer full-length piece in the future, or even an independent movie. I could see either being very successful.
