Gift Theatre Presents HAMLET REVIEW- Raw emotional telling of a familiar tale

A plexiglass wall separates us from the actors onstage. Smoke fills the stage and lighting from the stage floor and from onstage flashlights cast strange angles over the Ghost of Hamlet’s Father. Eerie music heightens the experience as he walks towards the glass wall and stares at the audience. The tension is palpable.

This is part of the scene that opens the Gift Theatre production of Hamlet. The story of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is very familiar to most people and this production doesn’t deviate much from the original text although occasional snippets of more modern dialogue help bring this show to the modern day. Hamlet (Daniel Kyri) returns home after the death of his father (Robert Cornelius). His mother Gertrude (Shanésia Davis) marries his uncle Claudius (John Kelly Connolly). Overwhelmed with grief and suspicion, we watch Hamlet’s descent into insanity.

Adapted to the close quarters in Gift Theatre space

This modernized adaptation, directed by Monty Cole, makes excellent use of the close quarters at The Gift Theatre. The ornate wall details on the set, designed by William Boles, clash with a floor that appears to be made of dirt. The dirt has worked its way onto the lower half of the walls. The plexiglass wall separating us from the actors helps us feel like flies on the wall during this production. We are there with the action onstage but the partition lulls us into a false sense of distance. This is shattered when characters break the 4^th wall and we are suddenly not as removed as we would like to be. Allowing us to experience emotional ups and downs in this way, in this writer’s opinion, enhances our experience of the emotional journey of the characters. The wall did, however, occasionally make hearing the actors difficult even with the aid of onstage microphones.

The very modern and fashionable wardrobe (designer: Samantha C. Jones) gave the production a fresh and present feel. The lighting (designer: Claire Chrzan) added an otherworldly element to key scenes that helped highlight the emotional state of the characters. Some of the technology included didn’t work for this writer as it seemed to detract from the acting rather than enhancing it. Overall, however, this modern production of a 400-year-old play provides an emotional and powerful journey.

The production is perfect for fans of Shakespeare, especially those who like a more contemporary feel. The tight quarters at The Gift will keep you up close and personal with your neighbors for the 3 hour production.

About the Author

Taryn Smith graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago's BFA Performance program in 2011. After graduating, she co-founded Realize Theatre Group and served as Executive Director for the company. She has filled numerous roles while with RTG both on and off stage including making her playwriting debut with her play America, Inc . She has worked as a stage manage, designer, director, and actor. Outside of the theatre world, Taryn is a licensed massage therapist.

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