Shakepeare's Hamlet lightens up in Murphys

Frank: Today is Father's Day, but would Laertes and Ophelia buy a necktie for their father, Polonius, a man who can blabber on forever and then have the nerve to pontificate, "Brevity is the soul of wit?" This line, of course, brought a laugh from the audience of about 45 on Saturday night.

Grace: They might have wished they had bought that tie after Hamlet dispatches their father.

Frank: Father's Day eve, the second night of Hamlet's run at Murphys Creek Theatre, was a cold night indeed. The production itself, though, is not quite the cold, dark story I anticipate for one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies.

Grace: Yes,  I agree. It comes across as more of a "Hamlet Lite," far more humorous than other productions I've seen. Not that that is a bad thing! The play is cut - with fewer calories, so to speak, but it still tastes good, to continue in the same vein. It runs about two and a half hours, including one intermission.

Frank: The story is familiar to most playgoers. Hamlet's uncle (Claudius) kills the king (Hamlet's father), takes the crown, and then woos and beds Hamlet's mother (Gertrude) even before the king is cold. His father's ghost tells Hamlet that Claudious murdered him, and Hamlet plots revenge by feigning insanity. He shuns Ophelia, his would-be betrothed, as part of his mad act, whereupon she actually goes mad and dies. Her brother, Laertes, blames Hamlet for her death and schemes with Claudius to dispose of him. By the final curtain just about everyone on stage is lying around dead.

Grace: To return to the Hamlet Lite concept, many of the actors do not project the gravitas usually associated with this play. Ari Levin as Hamlet, while delightful in many respects and certainly serious is come of his showcase scenes, has a pleasant but light voice. This makes his comic treatment of some lines - much appreciated by the audience - more believeable than the tragic moments. Even the ghost scene, usually eerie, draws laughter.

Frank: As for gravitas and projection, certainly the standout in this cast is Sheila Doyle as Gertrude. Every word, every nonverbal expression, shows a depth and clarity of purpose.

Grace: At first the performance is somewhat static. Then Hamlet's friend Horatio (Todd Thomas) bursts onto the stage. Todd has a great grasp of physical action and projects his voice admirably.

Frank: I quite agree. Todd always comes through with a fine performance. Michael Mager's Claudius, although regal in bearing, is somewhat less than evil.

Grace: Wait a minute here! He toughens up as the play proceeds.

Frank: Even so, I expected him to be a little more like Macbeth. After all, he's the one who causes all the trouble in the first place.

Grace: I suppose you're right. On a different subject, some lines got flubbed, particularly by Polonius. With his voluminous speeches that wasn't too surprising.

Frank: Apart from that minor criticism, Stephen Daly is the Polonius we have come to expect - wordy, funny and somewhat sycophantic, as in his reaction to Hamlet's description of a cloud.

Grace: The play-within-the-play Hamlet arranges to test Claudius is well done.

Frank: It is, but Claudius' reaction is less than what I would hope for. Surely he should show more of a reaction when the players, at Hamlet's urging, put on a play imitating his treachery, which makes him realize that Hamlet is on to him.

Grace: Getting to the staging, the simple castle set suits the productions. The scenery changes very little - a bench here, a kneeler there, and the simple arras for Polonius to hide behind. And the costumes are sumptuous. Of particular interest is Hamlet's attire, all black and white, belying his indecisiveness.

Frank: I should mention the treatment of two minor characters, Rosenstern and Guildencranz (see the play and you'll know what I mean).

Grace: Murphys Creek Theatre is an overlooked local asset deserving of much better support than Saturday night's small audience would indicate. We encourage our readers to spread the word.

Frank: And this year the company has a new box office, rustic in style, constructed with materials donated by Barden Stevenot. In addition, the teahtre has a new sound system, although even with the improved amplification, some of the dialog was not quite audible, especially the skull scene, which is one of Shakespeare's most crowd pleasing.

Grace: Speaking of pleasing crowds, the rest of the audience and I appreciated this unusual presentation of Hamlet.

Frank: In spite of my complaints, so did I. All in all a very worthy production, although not dark enough for me. Then again, Hamlet, with all his gloom and self-doubt, happens to be my hero.