Synetic's Silent 'Hamlet': A Timeless Dance of Tragedy

Synetic Theater's production of "Hamlet ... The Rest Is Silence" continues to captivate audiences, 22 years after its initial staging. This wordless adaptation of Shakespeare's longest play, which typically contains 30,557 words, demonstrates the power of physical storytelling.

The Tsikurishvili family, founders of Synetic, have made this production a generational endeavor. Paata Tsikurishvili, who originally played Hamlet in 2002, now directs. His wife, Irina Tsikurishvili, has transitioned from Ophelia to Queen Gertrude, while their son Vato Tsikurishvili now embodies the titular role.

This family affair mirrors the complex relationships in Shakespeare's tragedy, which explores themes of revenge, madness, and mortality. The production's evolution reflects the play's enduring relevance, having been translated into over 75 languages and adapted countless times since its first recorded performance in 1601.

Synetic's interpretation, running a concise 90 minutes compared to the potential four-hour duration of unabridged versions, manages to convey the essence of Hamlet's internal struggles through movement alone. Vato Tsikurishvili's physicality as Hamlet is particularly noteworthy, his body language efficiently conveying the character's indecision and conflict.

The ensemble's precision and unity are testament to Synetic's rigorous training program. Many performers have progressed through the company's youth division, honing their skills in this unique expressionist style. This approach allows the production to flow seamlessly from robust physicality to lyrical moments, capturing the play's emotional depth without uttering a single word from the famous "To be, or not to be" soliloquy.

While some elements of the original play are necessarily condensed or omitted, such as the character Fortinbras who plays a crucial role in the play's conclusion, the production successfully conveys key plot points. The traveling players and the duplicitous Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet's childhood friends who betray him, are efficiently portrayed.

"like watching spiders dance"

This description, echoing a review from a decade ago, speaks to the consistent quality and distinctive style of Synetic's performances over the years.

The production now finds its home at the Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre in Arlington, adapting to the loss of their Crystal City venue. This change echoes the play-within-a-play element of Hamlet, known as "The Mousetrap", as Synetic becomes a troupe of strolling players themselves.

Despite these changes, the core of Synetic's "Hamlet" remains powerful and affecting. The ghostly presence of Old King Hamlet, the tragic fate of Ophelia, and the final confrontation are all rendered with haunting clarity through movement alone.

As the production runs through October 13, 2024, it continues to prove that Shakespeare's words, while beautiful, are not always necessary to convey the emotional depth and tragic power of "Hamlet". In doing so, Synetic Theater has created a timeless interpretation that speaks volumes through silence.