Director girds for a run on ‘Hamlet’

Tom Titus

The greatest play in the English-speaking theater? A subjective

question, of course, but put it to any 10 theater practitioners and

probably at least seven of them will mention William Shakespeare’s

“Hamlet.”

After more than 400 years, “Hamlet” certainly has proven its

staying power. Movie versions have abounded with everyone from

Laurence Olivier to Mel Gibson to Kenneth Branagh taking his crack at

the vengeful prince of Denmark. Movie comedies, such as “Outrageous

Fortune,” spotlight Shelley Long as one of the few actresses to take

on the title character as the final credits roll.

Plays drawing their inspiration from “Hamlet” have run rampant --

“I Hate Hamlet,” “The 15-Minute Hamlet,” “Magic Time” and Tom

Stoppard’s “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead,” spotlighting a

pair of spear carriers from the original tragedy. Both Jack Benny and

Mel Brooks mined cinematic gold in “To Be or Not to Be.” Even the

popular song “That’s Entertainment” contains a reference to the play,

though not by name -- but what else could it be “where a ghost and a

prince meet and everyone ends in mincemeat?”

College theater departments salivate over the prospect of putting

the classic tragedy on stage. Costa Mesa’s Orange Coast College and

Vanguard University each have mounted the show in recent years, and

now it’s Golden West College’s turn. Director Tom Amen is

understandably stoked.

“I’ve always looked forward to the opportunity to tackle what is

undoubtedly the most famous play ever written,” Amen said. “It’s a

tremendous challenge for any director, just as the role of Hamlet is

a tremendous challenge for any actor.”

This remark was made before the play was cast -- which it will be

next week. Auditions are Tuesday and Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the

college’s Mainstage Theater, and all roles are open.

“There is no experience, preparation or appointment required to

attend the audition,” Amen says. “However, it is suggested that

actors read the play prior to auditioning.”

When they do, they’ll find that the title role isn’t the only

meaty assignment in “Hamlet.” There’s the murderous king, Claudius;

his queen and Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude; the loquacious patriarch,

Polonius; his excitable son, Laertes, and vulnerable daughter,

Ophelia, among others.

“Hamlet” also contains more quotable lines than any half-dozen

Shakespearean plays, and as Amen prepares to bring it to the GWC

stage, his dilemma is “to cut, or not to cut; that is the question.”

“Actually,” he said. “it is not a question of whether to cut, but

what to cut, as few directors elect to stage the play in its

entirety. While ‘Hamlet’ is one of the greatest plays ever written,

it also is one of the longest, and its length often has kept modern

audiences from appreciating its raw beauty and power.

“However, by trimming certain scenes, the length of the play is

reduced to digestible proportions, while the action of the play is

dramatically intensified. Furthermore, by trimming some of the more

peripheral scenes, it is possible to keep the focus squarely upon

Hamlet’s dilemma. The result is a story that is not only infused with

relentless tension, but a story that is accessible and exciting for a

modern audience.”

Summing up his thoughts about the upcoming production, Amen had

difficulty hiding his enthusiasm for Shakespeare in general, and for

this play in particular.

“Though it is by no means perfect, I believe that ‘Hamlet’ is the

most outstanding play ever written,” Amen said. “No playwright has

ever come close to matching Shakespeare’s understanding of human

nature, his mastery of language or his ability to create fascinating

characters that transcend time.

“Chief among these characters is Hamlet, who is, without question,

the most complex and enigmatic character ever to grace a theater

stage. Like the man who created him, Hamlet is in a league of his own

-- he is larger than life.”

Golden West’s “Hamlet” will hit the stage Nov. 5, and Amen is

chomping at the bit to get started.

“Given that we’ve assembled a fantastic design team, and given

that I tend to do my best work when I’m terrified, this should be

quite a production,” Amen said.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Independent.