PCPA to Present HAMLET, 2/13-3/2

Come and experience the greatest English language play ever written - Shakespeare's sublime story of treachery and revenge, The Tragedy of Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark. Hamlet teeters on The Edge of madness when he learns his uncle has killed his father and married his mother. Hamlet plays in the Marian Theatre February 13 - March 2, 2014.

Director Roger DeLaurier admits it's not unique to set a Shakespeare production in contemporary dress, but his choice to do so is to emphasize that this is not just a story about some people who lived hundreds of years ago. "There's a distancing that happens when we're in pumpkin pants, capes, and swords. It's easy to say that's about them then, and not about us now." DeLaurier said he intends to close as many of those gaps as possible to make Hamlet as accessible as he can. The popularity of this play and the reason it continues to speak to us, according to DeLaurier, is due to its life-like ambiguities, complex characters, and multi-layered and multi-faceted plot that doesn't hand us all the answers.

The Hamlet creative team includes Scenic Design by Jack Shouse, Costume Designs by Frederick P. Deeben, Lighting Design by Tamar Geist, and Sound Design by Walter T.J. Clissen. Peter S. Hadres is Fight Choreographer and the Production Stage Manager is Suzanne Tyler*.

The cast features Quinn Mattfeld* as Hamlet, Mark Booher as Claudius, Kitty Balay* as Gertrude, Peter S. Hadres* as Polonius, George Walker as Laertes, and Michael Jenkinson* as Horatio; and features 2nd year Conservatory acting student Sierra Wells as Ophelia.

Written around 1599 William Shakespeare's Hamlet is a tragedy filled with treachery, revenge, spies, and madness. In this play he also created a psychological mystery that affords us a look inside the mind of Hamlet.

It was Shakespeare's most popular play in his day and has continued its popularity on stage ever since. There have been numerous TV movies on the subject while motion pictures - dating back to the silent film era - have continually been produced.

Some of the stars of the 20th century who have played Hamlet include Sarah Bernhardt, John Barrymore, John Gielgud, Sir Lawrence Olivier, Richard Burton, Mel Gibson, Kenneth Brannagh, David Tennent, Kevin Kline, and Jude Law.

*Member, Actors' Equity Association

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