The Observer, September 26, 2008
Volume XLI, Issue 5
PTG is off to a great start with hilarious Hamlette
Autumn at Case Western Reserve University starts off on the right foot as the Players' Theatre Group (PTG) gathers to produce Hamlette: A Comedy in One Act at the Eldred Black Box Theater. The parody is packed with quick scenes and dialogue as it commendably cuts down an epic five-hour drama into a half-hour light-hearted, yet dark and twisted comedy, complete with double entendres and subtle jokes.
Hamlette begins in the "backwards, downtrodden nation of Denmark" where murder and cross-dressing are among key topics in the royal courts. The gender-questioning Prince, or is that Princess, Hamlette is torn with strife after the King's problematic death. Hamlette is played by the enthusiastic and witty Kaitlyn Estes, who shines in her debut with the PTG. Reluctant to admit to Hamlette's uncertainty is Horatio, played by the peppy Brianna Willinger, who gives a delightful performance as Hamlette's best friend. Hamlette's mother, the Queen, is played by fellow freshman Katie Metzger, whose quick reactions and delivery set the tone for the play. Gabe Geschke meets the challenge of transforming between the hopeless romantic Laertes and the torn, frail Ophelia by overacting and adding a few perks to his costume. Polonius, played by the serious, mellow, and unpredictable Colin McCauley hits his high note on an unexpected, hilariously conceived monologue that is played even better.
The small intimate cast of Hamlette has great chemistry and flows throughout the play nearly seamlessly. Director Aaron Byers helps lead seniors Clint Gable and Niklas Bauer, as Francisco and the Ghost respectively, in molding the young cast into a hilarious ensemble. Byers adds a few of his own personal touches to the play with splendid prop and costume choices, most notably with Laertes and Ophelia. Even more noticeable is Byers' culmination of slow-motion montages and a "bodacious soundtrack" that raise Hamlette to a whole new level.
Hamlette forecasts a great start to a year of theater from the PTG at Case. The cast is able to successfully move from the setting of the play to tangents in the movie Hamlet to today's pop-culture.
The meta-humor used during the final battle scenes are excellently performed as Beau Buccilli takes on the role of a fight night announcer before the final duel between Hamlette and Laertes. Overloaded with jokes in the short half-hour runtime, Hamlette is an excellent play to just enjoy and have a good laugh.
