Theater/Arts: Delight in Long Beach Playhouse’s production of ‘Hamlet’ next week
Columnist Willie Plaschke writes about Long Beach’s theater and art scenes. The Long Beach Playhouse's production of William Shakespeare's "Hamlet," set to open on April 4, is directed by James Rice and Amanda Karr. The adaptation, inspired by an NPR story about an inmate at the Oklahoma State Prison directing her own version of the story, places Hamlet in a 19th century asylum where the tale of a father's untimely murder unfolds through the lens of Hamlet's fractured psyche. The production features a diverse cast of actors including Sarah Green, Carmen Tunis, and newcomers Sophia Gonzales and Roberto Williams. The official opening night on April 6 will be on Saturday, April 6. Performances will take place on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 pm.
Publicerad : en månad sedan förbi Willie Plaschke i
Locals will soon have a chance to delight in a fresh take on a literary classic with the Long Beach Playhouse’s production of “Hamlet,” which opens next Thursday, April 4.
The adaptation, directed by James Rice and Amanda Karr, reimagines the story of playwright William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” in a 19th century asylum — where the tale of a father’s untimely murder unfolds through the lens of Hamlet’s fractured psyche.
Scholar Stephen Booth believes that this play is a tragedy not of a man who can’t make up his mind’ (as Laurence Olivier once put it), but of an audience that is tragically indecisive about what they are viewing on stage.
Rice and Karr, inspired by an NPR story from two decades ago about an inmate at the Oklahoma State Prison directing her own version of the story, view Hamlet — the character and the play — as the embodiment of distinct thematic shards of meaning.
“This got me thinking about a multiple personality Hamlet,” Rice said in a recent press release. “What evolved was an adaptation of Hamlet representing a journey in Hamlet’s mind with personalities representing his emotions. Working with Amanda Karr, we developed the story.”
As such, the production hopes to place these warring factions of the psyche inside the mind of the brooding Prince of Denmark, captivating Long Beach audiences.
With a diverse cast of both veterans and fresh faces — including Sarah Green, Carmen Tunis, and newcomers Sophia Gonzales and Roberto Williams—the production offers to explore one of Western literature’s most puzzling characters.
“This adaptation brings a new contour to one of the bard’s best-known plays,” Madison Mooney, the Playhouse’s executive director, said in the press release.
The show will celebrate its official opening night on Saturday, April 6 — and will run through Saturday, May 4. Performances will take place on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
But in addition to those regular performances, the Long Beach Playhouse will offer a couple of events to further engage the community, including a “pay what you can” showing on Thursday, April 4 and a $10 preview on Friday, April 5.
Long Beach Shakespeare Company will bring one of the most meaningful tragedies ever written to the stage, starting on Friday, April 12.
“Antigone” as part of the thematic the company’s “Lost and Found” arc of shows for the 2023-2024 season, delves into the profound anguish of individuals grappling with the irrevocable loss of loved ones and hoping to find courage in the face of immense pain.
“Antigone” was the first play the great Greek dramatist Sophocles wrote as part of what was to become his Theban Cycle — the other two being “Oedipus Tyrannus” and “Oedipus at Colonus.”
However, in the fashion of something like George Lucas’s approach to his Star Wars universe, the events depicted in “Antigone” are the last to occur chronologically.
At the heart of the narrative of “Antigone” lies the stubborn yet powerful defiance of Antigone — daughter of the doomed Oedipus — who provides burial rites to her fallen brother in direct opposition to the edict of her uncle, King Creon.
Will Creon stand fast in his commitment to steadying the ship of state in a time of war? Or will he listen to powers greater than his own?
When the specter of war looms large, the play paints a poignant picture of a community striving to reclaim what has been taken from them – sons, brothers, and husbands lost in battle and forever out of reach, even in death.
Antigone’s unwavering commitment to upholding divine law over human decree — and her thunderous dialogue with Creon — has ignited the hearts and minds of theatergoers and scholars for generations.
In our own generation, after a global pandemic deprived many of the opportunity to bid farewell to their loved ones in traditional ways, we are left wondering: how do we pay homage to what we have lost? In the face of adversity, how do we hold fast to our values?
Long Beach Shakespeare Company’s presentation of “Antigone” promises to provoke introspection and ignite dialogue on these fundamental aspects of humanity.
The show will run through Saturday, May 4. Visit lbshakespeare.org for tickets and showtimes.
On Sunday, April 7, celebrate the Bard’s birthday month with melodies inspired by his words.
The Long Beach Camerata Singers and the Catalyst Chamber Ensemble will present musical performances of some of Shakespeare’s most memorable texts during the event.
Adding to the enchantment of the evening, the Long Beach Shakespeare Company will make a special pre-show appearance, offering a taste of the Bard’s theatrical magic before the music begins.
Founded in November 2022, the Catalyst Chamber Ensemble has become a cornerstone of the Long Beach cultural scene, enriching the musical landscape of Southern California. Under the leadership of James Bass, the ensemble unites professional singers with exceptionally talented volunteers to deliver compelling a cappella performances every season.
The show will get underway at Los Altos United Methodist Church, 5950 E. Willow St., at 4:30 p.m.
Tickets for this enchanting evening range from $45 to $65 and can be purchased online or at the door.