#Jeff wanshel’s Ophelia

[brechtian]

Here is the Ophelia playlist for anyone who wanted to listen to the final product :) I’d recommend listening in order I think it’s a lot of fun

[brechtian]

Psychomachia going on rn debating with myself over the merits and pitfalls of Jeff wanshel’s Ophelia softening hamlet and giving him a genuine romance with Ophelia (like to the point where they purposefully evoke Romeo & Juliet). Because I do actually completely 120% understand why he did so bc if you want to give an Ophelia centered retelling of Hamlet where she has significantly more agency you need to solve the problem of her being hamlet’s victim time and time again but. but also. I don’t know that it feels Great to defang and turn a horrifically destructive relationship into a sweet tragic romance like in all honesty Ophelia should probably get to kill that man. BUT the whole point of hamlet is he remains painfully sympathetic even amidst his deterioration and self destruction. head in hands. torment

[brechtian]

Uh maybe Last Year by alt-J or maybe Drumming Song or What The Water Gave Me by Florence and the Machine? Where The River Goes by House Phone mayhaps? Sorry to just throw out all my drowning songs like a chump 😭😭 im taking this seriously but I dont usually think abt characters in connection to songs. Also saw Extraordinary Machine was on there and ive been listening to that in repeat lately literally great choice

Credit for that one goes to lucy @darkcomedies resident hamlet scholar! Will go listen to all these rn :) thank youuuu

edit: added drumming song!

[brechtian]

hello I'd like to suggest funeral by Phoebe bridgers for your ophelia playlist:))

yeah sure actually this works, added! thanks :)

[brechtian]

uni is doing Jeff wanshel’s ophelia in the spring & I read the script last night and it’s a lott of fun! love a brechtian meta intertextual Ophelia-centered hamlet. Favorite part of the play is probably the way characters will read from or slip into famous scenes/lines from other Shakespeares (cackled with delight when hamlet and Ophelia started doing the r&j balcony scene, clapped when hamlet said o full of scorpions is my mind and cheered when Ophelia gives Emilia’s it is their husbands’ fault if wives do fall monologue)