This production of Hamlet is greatly abridged in order to fit Shakespeares longest play into a seventy-five minute slot. Although this shows in one or two places, such as Hamlets trip to England which lasts only about one minute, it means that the story moves rapidly, with barely a moments pause.Two-Day productions, which was founded in 2006 at the University of St. Andrews, do not believe in spectacular staging and that shows with this production. The scenery is very basic boxes, books and a prevailing brownness to everything. However, this works well with a play that is as dark and depressing as Hamlet. Similarly, there are no unnecessary special effects used for the ghost of Hamlets father, just an actor in white makeup and white smock.Initially, Hamlet is played as a moody teenager, sitting around miserably. He is unhappy about his fathers death and the fact that his mother has remarried within a month, but until he sees his fathers ghost he has no idea that his father was murdered. Once he learns this, he thinks only of revenge and events then spiral out of control, leading to misery and death.This is a very physical and energetic production. The sword fight between Hamlet and Laertes is particularly well-done. In fact its so fierce and realistic that anyone sitting in the front row might feel themselves at some risk.Overall, this is a well-acted and gripping production.