Acorn Productions Extends Run of HAMLET, 5/30-6/14

Members of Naked Shakespeare join student actors from Acorn's eight-month long training program in their final production of the season, directed by Michael Howard, co-founder of the Naked Shakespeare series and a veteran actor and director in the Greater Portland area. Shakespeare's classic play comes to live in an innovative staging that provides a unique perspective on the Dane's dilemma. The production is co-sponsored by the USM Department of English, and performs from May 30 to June 14 at the Wishcamper Center at USM. Performances of "Hamlet" are free of charge for USM students and staff with an $10 charge for all other audience members. Please visit Acorn Productions's website for more information: www.acorn-productions.org. A complete calendar listing appears below.

Director Michael Howard says, "Hamlet is the play, according to Anthony Burgess that 'the world can do least without.' It contains in the title role a character so large in scope to be the accumulation of all our values and beliefs; no other play gives an actor such words of compassion, charm, wisdom, wit, impetuosity and philosophy. This Hamlet production is unusual in two ways: First: My Hamlet is a woman -- playing a man. Why not, it has been done many times before, and it is a fair and just choice for two reasons -- you want your best actor/ess playing the role; and, the Elizabethans were all men playing the extraordinary women created by Shakespeare, so turnabout is fair play. Secondly, the actors will remain on stage the whole time as if they were witnesses at a trial, yes, unusual, but not unprecedented. It is to be a dissection of the play with actors as players -- watching and reacting and ready to give their evidence. The players continually recharge their energy on the stage, and their constant presence is an ever-transforming chorus informing and making immediate the events."

Friday, May 30th at 7pm
Saturday, May 31st at 7pm
Friday, June 6th at 7pm
Saturday, June 7th at 7pm
Sunday, June 8th at 2:30pm
Friday, June 13th at 7pm
Saturday, June 14th at 7pm