Apr 19, 2011 - Hamlet, Shakespeare’s masterpiece about a young prince instructed to avenge his father’s death, will play six more times only at the Belle Varado Studios/Stage 22, in Silverlake. This is a Player King production, directed and produced by Ty Mayberry.
Taken out of the regular theater set-up, the audience sits surrounding a completely white stage. Hamlet, (Samuel Dahl), plays the piano while the other ten members of the cast, arrayed in elegant and modern garments, are introduced.
It is a different experience to sit “on stage” – the actors make eye contact, sometimes they even sit next to you, and the ghost of the King walks right behind you. Dahl does a good job portraying a young prince that switches between real and feigned madness, with intense moments like the exchange with his mother Queen Gertrude, played by the beautiful Angela Nicholas. Gina Lohman plays a believable Ophelia, distraught to death after the loss of her father. The lighting is an important character as well, with moments of intense darkness and brightness.
Hamlet is one of Shakespeare’s tragedies, meaning that at the end almost everyone is dead. However, in true Bard’s style, not without some comedy relief first, in this production provided by Joe Massingill and Curtis Rainsberry (as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern), two husky guys who belong to improv teams and do bring out the chuckles.
Hamlet will play Sundays and Mondays at 7.30 pm until May 9 only. All ages are welcome. A cash bar (beer, wine, soft drinks and coffee) is available. Tickets are $15 and available online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/166103.
The Belle Varado Studios/Stage 22 is located at 2107 Bellevue Ave, Los Angeles CA (Silverlake area). More information about this production at http://www.playerkingproductions.com/Player_King_Productions/Upcoming.html
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