Highly Recommended Dance Theater: THE TRAGEDY OF HAMLET: PRINCE OF DENMARK (U.S. Premiere at The Harris Theater, Chicago, November 23 & 24, 2024)

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by Emma S. Rund on November 19, 2024

in Theater-Chicago,Theater-International,Tours

THE REAL TRAGEDY WOULD BE MISSING
THE TRAGEDY OF HAMLET

Legendary director Robert Lepage and dancer/choreographer Guillaume Côté reunite to re-imagine theatre’s most timeless, persistent and haunting stories. Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark makes its highly anticipated U.S. premiere for a limited two-day engagement at Harris Theater in Chicago. This production is a wordless take on the emblematic tale of a man consumed by doubt and perhaps descending into madness after his father dies under troubling circumstances. This new Hamlet mines the essential narratives of Shakespeare’s complex examination of the human condition. With a weaving of classic and contemporary choreography, performed by a company of nine dancers, Côté himself stars as the troubled Dane for three performances only, November 23 & 24, 2024, as part of an international tour.

Côté and Lepage’s creation pulls the audience deep into a world of deceptiveness, where ghosts and humans mingle on a minimalist set on which light, shadow and transparency play a central role. This metaphorical reinterpretation of the Shakespearian drama draws a fine line between movements of the body and what may or may not be lurking within the corners of the mind.

This captivating fusion of theater and dance by Lepage (Met Opera, Stratford Festival, Cirque du Soleil) and Côté, best known for his long tenure as a Principal Dancer with The National Ballet of Canada, had its world premiere in Toronto last spring and then a presentation at Festivalul Internațional Shakespeare in Craiova.

The emblematic tale of a man engulfed by doubt and possibly slipping into madness following the tragic death of his father offers a fresh perspective on the enduring masterpiece. The 100-minute-long performance delves into the core narratives of Shakespeare’s intricate exploration of the human condition, seamlessly blending classical and contemporary choreography.

Côté stated, “Robert has staged numerous award-winning productions of Hamlet globally and has even played the role himself. His deep and nuanced understanding of the play became a topic of discussion as we worked on another multi-disciplinary experience in 2018, Frame by Frame produced by The National Ballet of Canada. Hamlet remains a deep exploration of the human experience, and by gaining a deeper understanding of this character, we can appreciate the importance of taking action to address the problems of humanity. Shakespeare’s canon of works exemplifies the power of art, and there is no better time than now to unite through shared experiences.”

Lepage added, “Hamlet, both the play and the character, have left an indelible mark on my career, When Guillaume expressed an interest in revisiting the character, the proposition of working with him to find a nonverbal expression of the inner contradictions and the paradoxes of Hamlet was, for me, an immensely inspiring idea.”

Côté and Lepage adopt a theatrical approach to the narrative, focusing on the dynamic movements of the nine-dancer ensemble. Lepage infuses the production with his renowned visual signature, crafting a powerfully symbolic world using expressive lighting design, movable set pieces, and a striking original score by award-winning composer John Gzowski.

“This piece is really based on bodies, on movement, on how to use the space,” says Lepage. “I think people will recognize my signature ’¦ any technology we employ is very supportive of the strong ideas underpinning the production.”

The brooding and provocative design elements are brought to life Creative Director at Ex Machina Steve Blanchet, Lighting Designer Simon Rossiter, Costume Designer Michael Gianfrancesco — this talented trio ensures a visually stunning and immersive experience for the audience.

photos by Stéphane Bourgeois
cover photo by Sasha Onyshchenko

 

The Tragedy of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark
Ex Machina, Côté Danse, Dvoretsky Productions with Show One Productions
Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St.
Saturday, November 23 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 24 at 1 p.m.
Sunday, November 24 at 6:30 p.m.
for tickets (starting at $59), call 312.334.7777 or visit The Harris
for more info and international tour dates, visit Show One Productions and Côté Danse

Robert Lepage is internationally considered one of the most versatile and esteemed theatre artists worldwide. His original approach to theatre has won him international acclaim, particularly for his use of new technologies. He is the recipient of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement and was made a Companion of the Order of Canada. He is the founder and artistic director of Ex Machina and has directed numerous plays, operas and films including work for Cirque du Soleil and the Metropolitan Opera.

Choreographer and dancer Guillaume Côté is one of Canada’s most celebrated dance artists. He has been the leading male figure of The National Ballet of Canada as a Principal Dancer since 2004 and has choreographed many works for the company. He has also been invited to perform at the most prestigious companies in the world like The Royal Ballet in London, Teatro alla Scala in Milan and the New York City Ballet. Côté is also Artistic Director of the Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur.

Composer, sound designer, musician and instrument maker John Gzowski has worked on over 250 theater, dance and film productions for which he has composed, created sound designs, performed live Foley and live music and acted as musical director. He has played banjo for opera in Banff, studied Carnatic classical music in India and played oud and guitar in jazz and folk festivals across Canada and Europe.

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