Theatre

Previous Performances Autumn 2007: The Sound of Music Ran October 19 - 21 & 26 - 28 Play Stats, Cast, Photos & Video - click here! Greene Room Productions: Holes May 2-4, 9-11, 16-18 All shows: Friday & Saturday, 8pm Sunday, 2pm Memorial Hall Contact (413) 668-7284 or www.greeneroomproductions.com

Monson Arts Council Spring 2008 production

Spring 2008 Play Announced

The spring production of I Hate Hamlet will be staged at Memorial Hall, 198 Main Street in Monson, April 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20. Congratulations to the cast selected in the recent auditions: Andrew Rally: Shawn Landers Deidre McDavey: Christine Henry John Barrymore: Brent Northup Felicia Dantine: Rae Bannigan Gary Leifkowitz: Forris Day Lillian Troy: Susan Trudeau This play will be under the direction of the experienced and talented Waldo Goodermote. For further information on the play or any of the Monson Arts Council programs, please contact Barbara Keffer at 413-267-4286. Related Articles by Rebecca Drake: I Hate Hamlet Poster Artist Virginia Midyette Theater Technician Rich Dion

I Hate Hamlet
April 11, 12, 18, 19 at 8:00 p.m.
April 13, 20 at 2:00 p.m.

Synopsis:

As its title suggests, Paul Rudnick’s 1991 play I Hate Hamlet deals with the question of just how relevant William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is for modern audiences. The play centers around a young actor who has just earned fame and fortune on a television show about doctors and is apprehensive about returning to New York to play Hamlet in the prestigious Shakespeare in Central Park festival. To add to his insecurities, his realtor has rented him an apartment once inhabited by John Barrymore, who many consider to have given one of the greatest performances of Hamlet in the twentieth century. A séance brings the ghost of John Barrymore back to the apartment where he once lived. Barrymore offers guidance to the young actor, who has to decide between the easy money that he could make with a new television series and the confidence to be gained by facing the world’s most difficult acting challenge. Rudnick fills the play with laughs, as he lightly satirizes greedy realtors, vacuous Hollywood producers, pretentious but well-meaning actresses, and hard-drinking, womanizing actors.

I Hate Hamlet opened on Broadway on April 8, 1991, at the Walter Kerr theater. In its initial run, Nicol Williamson, playing the ghost of John Barrymore, immersed himself into his part, channeling the famous rogue with such fury that he once hurt another actor during an onstage duel, causing an understudy to step in for act 2. Since its initial run, the play has been a favorite for small theaters, enjoyed for its wit and its reflection on the actor’s art in the modern, commercialized world.

CAST BREAKDOWN (3 men, 3 women)

Andrew Rally (Shawn Landers) — A soap opera star in his late 20s, early 30s. He’s a little spoiled, a little full of himself, although he doubts whether or not he took the right career path. After the end of his last series, LA Medical, Andrew moves to the New York apartment of John Barrymore. He has been cast to play Hamlet in Central Park, but does not want to take the role — in fact, he secretly fears it.

Deidre McDavey (Christine Henry) — Andrew’s girlfriend, in her mid 20s; she’s very bubbly, very air-headed, but extremely sweet. She believes in true love, and wants to wait until marriage to consummate said love. She is an (awful) actress; her dream is to someday play Ophelia.

John Barrymore (Brent Northup) — The ghost of a Shakespearean actor in his mid 40s; in fact, the best of his generation. He’s extremely egocentric, extremely bombastic, and extremely wasted, whether on vodka, gin, or perfume samples lying around the house. Only Andrew and Gary can see him, as he tries to guide the young Rally on his path to becoming Hamlet.

Felicia Dantine (Rae Bannigan) — A real estate agent in her mid 30s. Trendy and shallow, she’s used to living high on the checks she’s been paid by the rich and famous. She has a slew of strange New-Age hobbies, including experimentation with the occult.

Gary Leifkowitz (Forris Day) — Andrew’s friend from LA, in his late 20s, early 30s. Completely cultureless and extremely blunt, Gary is all about the Benjamins, baby. He is a producer/writer/director, and wants to convince Andrew to leave New York and Shakespeare behind for a tasteless yet lucrative superhero TV show called Night School.

Lillian Troy (Deb Sprout) — Andrew’s agent, in her late 70s. German-born but Americanized, Lillian acts as a motherly figure to Andrew, pushing him to do Hamlet. Her health is declining due to years of smoking; she has an ominous hacking cough. In the mid 1930s, she had an affair with John Barrymore in this very apartment.

About the Director

Waldo Goodermote has worked for over 40 years in both professional and community theater as an actor and/or director. He holds a Masters degree in theatre from the University of Connecticut. He also has received several CTA awards for direction and set design. Local audiences will know him from his work in numerous local community theatre groups, including Westfield, Exit 7, Suffield and Monson. For the Monson Arts Council he directed "Damn Yankees", "Never Too Late", "Breath of Spring", and "Lily the Felon's Daughter" to name only a few.

Some of his favorite roles are Nicely Nicely in "Guys and Dolls", Mack the Knife in "Three Penny Opera", Luther Billis in "South Pacific", Doolittle in "My Fair Lady", Hines in "Pajama Game" along with Pseudolous in "A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum", and most recently as Scrooge in "Scrooge the Musical" with Exit 7, which he will repeat this coming December.

Return to top of page
Return to previous page

Theatre | Art Shows | Craft Fair | Art Camp | Concerts
Membership | About the MAC | Board Members and Info | MAC Calendar | News & Announcements | Contact the MAC
Advertising Opportunities | Monson Arts Council's NEW ONLINE STORE