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I HATE HAMLET

 

Reviewed by Jeffrey R Smith of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle

 

Currently, the award winning, Ross Valley Players are staging the hilarious, quasi-erudite, comedy: I HATE HAMLET by Paul Rudnick. The play is the satirical confluence of three elements: American celebrity history focusing on the life and times of the dissolute, stage and screen actor John Barrymore; a romantic comedy involving a 29-year-old virgin (a woman this time) and her soap opera boy friend; and of course a smidgen of Shakespeare to give the play a touch of redemptive class.

 

Norman Hall is clearly at the apex of the comedic triad that keeps the audience laughing from curtain rise until curtain fall. MR Hall plays the ghost of John Barrymore; haunting his former apartment that has fallen into the hands of an “in between jobs” television actor who has been cast as Hamlet: the role Barrymore was most proud of. MR Hall very successfully diffuses himself into the complexities of his character: rake, alcoholic, arrogant actor and most importantly: mentor.

 

David Shirk plays Andrew Rally: the insecure, skitterish, reluctant actor who has been cast as Hamlet and is now agonizing with doubts, rapt with trepidations and stymied by second thoughts. MR Shirk brings lots of comic animation to his character.

 

Mistyann Lotterie is spectacular as the exuberant, earnest girl friend, Deirdre McDavey, who encourages her on again off again Hamlet to take his first bold step onto the Shakespearean stage. After he stakes his first bold step, she too takes a first bold step but you will have to see the play to get the details.

 

Matthew Boucher is well cast as the Hollywood television producer Gary Peter Lefkowitz who tries to lure the reluctant Hamlet actor back to his comfort zone within the banality of prime time television. Whether the role of MR Boucher is more accurately described as a stereotype or a satire is purely conjectural. It is difficult to parody anything from under the Hollywood cultural umbrella given it is already a parody of itself.

 

This play is highly recommended if you enjoy quality theater and you are looking for a delightful evening of wholesome comedy. Affordable tickets can be reserved by calling the Ross Valley Player box office at 415 456-9555 or going the their website at www.rossvalleyplayers.com.