Hollywood meets Hamlet at Blackhorse Village Players
By Anne Ritchie
At times, an actor may answer Hamlet's query "To be or not to be" with a most decisive "not!"
That would explain the resounding laughs of Paul Rudnik's I Hate Hamlet, Blackhorse Village Players current production.
Yet, even when a Hollywood ham who gained fame by kissing chipmunks (compliments of Lynn Kehrli), yes, even he can come to understand the glory of Hamlet, and step in to answer the call.
That call begrudgingly belongs to the trendy chipmunk kisser Andrew Rally (Lui Pisano), fresh from the Hollywood medical role, a man flashing a beguiling "yes I'm a star" smile. To get in character, he immerses himself in Hamlet by taking residence in Shakespearean actor John Barrymore's home.
Felicia, (Kate Horzempa), an effortlessly chatty real estate agent with strange psychic ability, then sets the stage for more drama and theatrics. A wide range of special effects leaves the audience on edge and introduces the long since departed key resident.
Pisano plunges into his role with passion, stirring up laughter at every turn. As he trips into the lights of Shakespearean theatre, he sheds his Hollywood fame, grappling with the question of whether he is to be - or not to be - a Shakespearean success.
Glimmers of frustration, indifference, yearning and doubt flash through Pisano's excellent comic performance. Here's a character that leaves us guessing right up to the final scenes!
Much as Barrymore would have liked it, it's not love of Hamlet that presses Andrew on. 'Tis the pressing urges of manhood, spiced by his own Ophelia, Deirdre (Melissa Marks). Marks plays a decidedly virginal wannabe starlet. She lights up the stage with a bubbly main character that seems always on the verge of bursting: bursting into excitement, bursting into experience, or bursting into love. Indeed, were she to burst into song, it would probably be One day my Prince will come, that being Hamlet. Is this to be or not? Find out in the final surprising scenes of I Hate Hamlet.
Even as Andy hates Hamlet, there's a ghost of a chance he'll succeed. The ghost is none other than Barrymore, played by John Rowe. Rowe glides into character as if he lives on stage, Indeed, due to the facts Dierdre brings to light, Rowe is faced with playing a legend of stage and screen, a man who loved and lost (and loved again, and again, and again), and a tipsy boozer embracing life, all encased in the glory of a man who magnificently portrayed Hamlet. Rowe polishes every facet admirably.
Barrymore's admirer includes Andy's agent, Lillian (Denise Zahorodney). In a scene that leaves the audience laughing, she exuberantly assaults Andy with her passionate belief in his ability to be Hamlet, just as Barrymore could be. Zahorodny sharpened her talent on past seasons with Blackhorse and offers a dynamic performance. Lillan has seen much, lived well, and loved often, and each time she expresses this on stage, the audience smiles a little more, as does the ghost of Barrymore.
The only character not hell bent on Andy playing Hamlet is Gary (Don Colucci), Andy's writer/- director/producer (never has so little done so much). The sunglassed spin-doctor raised, pummeled and cheered Andy to Hollywood heights by sheer energy, drive and gung-ho attitude. In a high-powered performance, Colucci woos with million dollar dreams, fame and fortune just waiting to be . . . or not?
Director Brad Poirier, assisted by Jade Poirier and producer Vicki Drier, with Kierston Drier, have added yet another jewel to Blackhorse Village Players crown. No doubt Barrymore himself would find it enjoyable.
