THE DECONSTRUCTED PLAY’S THE THING
William Shakespeare’s Hamlet recounts the story of the ghost of Denmark’s murdered king who wants his son, Prince Hamlet, to kill his uncle Claudius, the man who murdered the king to seize the throne and marry Hamlet’s mother. Long considered one of the world’s greatest tragedies, it delves into Hamlet’s troubled mind as he tries to decide whether he can take the ultimate revenge on his uncle by killing him. His inaction to do so creates a downward spiral in all aspects of his life, especially with his beloved mother Gertrude and Ophelia, the young girl at court who believes Hamlet is very much in love with her.
In this uniquely updated production for The Long Beach Playhouse, director James Rice and assistant director/choreographer Amanda Kerr have reimagined the story so the audience experiences all the emotions affecting the mind of Shakespeare’s most dynamic character. Set in a 19th-century asylum, we are introduced to an inmate struggling with a father’s death; and after a psychotic break, communicates only by continuously reciting the play, with all the other inmates portraying the rest of the often gender-bending characters.
To wondrous effect, we enter Hamlet’s mind via five characters as the story proceeds as Shakespeare told it, but with a core Hamlet (Sarah Green) and four others playing their innocence (Sophia Gonzales), wisdom (Carmen Tunis), justice (Autumn Yesterday), and vengeance (Roberto Williams who alone could do the deed if the other emotions did not interrupt him). Thus, when Hamlet goes into his long monologues, each of the five actors take turns reciting parts of it which reflect the emotions struggling to take dominance in Hamlet’s troubled mind and influence his behavior.
In his director’s notes, Rice writes his inspiration was a story he heard on NPR 20 years ago about a woman directing Hamlet for the Oklahoma State Prison. “This got me thinking about a multiple personality Hamlet. What evolved was an adaptation representing a journey into Hamlet’s mind with personalities representing his emotions.” He goes on to say he is pleased to have the chance to do it again, this time with a diverse cast and a sense of the gender-fluid world we live in now.
Besides the outstanding five actors portraying Hamlet, standouts include Michael Hovance who seemed naturally at ease and comfortable in Polonius’s stunning period costumes, designed by Christina Bayer. Hovance captures the many sides of the regal but misguided elder to a tee, full of former bravado now slipping through his mind like sand through an hourglass. Tavia Williams portrays his daughter Ophelia as a vulnerable teenager who is both joyously overtaken by her first love and then heartbroken when Hamlet’s inability to kill Claudius pulls his attention away from the lovely girl who is willing to do anything to maintain his affection, despite the warnings from her father. Set design by David Scaglione creates a perfect escape drop into the river where Ophelia takes her life. Her brother Laertes is portrayed by Lee Samuel Tanng, so striking in the role (and an adept fencer) that I wish he did not disappear from the play for so long due to being sent away by his father early on.
And, of course, there are the ruling monarchs Gertrude and Claudius, portrayed by Rose London and Neil Switzer with all the regal bearing and elegant presence their roles require. The five Hamlets are used to perfection during the scene when Hamlet confronts his mother about what Claudius has done: All five surround her and try to dominate her attention to each of their points of view. It’s no wonder she runs off totally frightened by the experience.
Sound and lighting designers Laurel Mura and Jesse Bosworth enhance the creepy elements in the play, especially when the already-dead characters return to watch the action play out from the walkways behind the audience seated on three sides of the thrust stage. Cold-blue lighting on the dead will send a real chill down your spine when they appear, their dead faces draped in sheer netting.
From those who know and appreciate the story to anyone not familiar with the play or its characters, this unique take on Shakespeare’s Hamlet will grab your attention, especially with scenes often played in the aisles next to audience members, giving you an up-close and personal connection to the characters as they all try to figure out what to do next as Hamlet starts to disappear behind all their emotions rather than take action against Claudius. I guarantee you will be pulled along for the ride through Hamlet’s troubled mind leading to his inability to gain control of himself.
Hamlet’s 16-member cast also includes Jacob Caldwell, Lisa J. Salas, Aldo Valencia, Payton Cella, Elizabeth Amber Cortez, and Benjamin Rasmussen.
photos courtesy of Long Beach Playhouse
Hamlet
Long Beach Playhouse
Mainstage Theatre, 5021 E. Anaheim St in Long Beach
Fri and Sat at 8; Sun at 2
ends on May 5, 2024
for tickets ($20-$25), call 562.494.1014, option 1, or visit LB Playhouse