NORTH CRAWFORD -Shakespeare’s Hamlet is the most widely performed play in the world. It is estimated that it is being performed somewhere every single minute of every day, and is studied in nearly every language in every country on earth. Now, North Crawford will, for the first time in our school’s history, bring this monumental work to our stage.
Hamlet will run March 8, 9, and the 14, 15, 16, at 7 p.m. Admission is FREE on Friday, March 8. Tickets are on sale now at the North Crawford School District office for $7 adults & $5 students. Call 608-735-4311 for reservations. Tickets can also be purchased at the door on any night. Don’t miss it!
No fear, Shakespeare! Don’t be afraid you won’t understand the play.
First, we have simplified the most confusing language of the play. Second, if you’ve ever seen the Lion King, you already know the story of Hamlet: wicked uncle kills brother to become king. Son of king goes into long depression and uselessness. Son of king rises up and kills wicked uncle. In fact, every character in Lion King is based on Hamlet. Except, unlike Lion King, at the end of Hamlet, every major character is lying dead on the stage! What fun!
As our play opens, Hamlet (Gavin Forkash), Prince of Denmark, is seriously depressed over the sudden death of his father, King Hamlet (Nathan Zibrowski). Hamlet is also disgusted by the immediate marriage of his newly widowed mother, Queen Gertrude (Rachael Peterson), to his uncle, King Hamlet’s brother, Claudius (Clayton Herfel), who now has the throne.
Shortly thereafter, the ghost of Hamlet’s father appears to guards on nightly watch as well as to Hamlet’s good friend, Horatio (Jasmine File). They tell Hamlet, who goes that night to watch for the ghost. The ghost reveals that Uncle Claudius had murdered the King by pouring poison in his ear while sleeping. Hamlet vows to avenge his father’s murder.
Meanwhile, Hamlet has a girlfriend, Ophelia (Nora O’Brien). Her brother Laertes (Dominic Carstens), tells Ophelia to be wary of Hamlet’s affections toward her, since Hamlet will have to marry a princess, and not her. Likewise, her father, Polonius, the King’s advisor (Marco Esparza) orders Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet.
Hamlet is totally at a loss for what to do. He starts acting mentally unhinged. He considers killing himself in the great ‘to be or not to be’ speech. His sanity begins to be questioned by all.
Claudius and Gertrude are both concerned; Polonius suggests it is caused by Ophelia’s rejection of his love. Claudius and Polonius decide to spy on Hamlet and Ophelia. Claudius further employs Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (Martha Bransky and Faith Morga), two childhood friends of Hamlet, to spy on him. Hamlet quickly suspects their intentions.
Hamlet engages a troupe of actors to determine if the ghost’s story is true. He has them reenact the murder, killing a king through poison in the ear. While the court is watching the play, Claudius is enraged and leaves the room, convincing Hamlet that he truly is the murderer. Now all Hamlet has to do is kill Claudius before Claudius kills him. It is a race to the very finish at which, we already know…nobody wins.
Hamlet will be the last play directed by Rob Ghormley, as he is retiring from Theater after 34 years, including 24 at North Crawford. He expresses his gratitude and joy in working with all the fabulous students of North Crawford and for all the wonderful support of this community for the Playhouse.
