Vince Eisenson in Chesapeake Shakespeare Company’s “Hamlet.” Photo by Kiirstn Pagan.
The Chesapeake Shakespeare Company’s production of “Hamlet,” directed by Eleanor Holdridge, is an energetic and familiar story filled with the perils of politics, loyalty, and love. The opening scene, with its throbbing discordant music and crackling spurts of electricity from dark clouds overhead, presents us with a foreshadowing of the madness and obsession that gather like a storm in Hamlet’s mind. This Hamlet, played masterfully by Vince Eisenson, is not a sympathetic character. He is an intense, self-proclaimed brooding mess, largely due to the recent death of his beloved father the king, and the immediate marriage of his mother Gertrude to his uncle Claudius, who now wears the crown. Hamlet’s unease with the goings-on at Elsinore castle are confirmed by the appearance of his father’s ghost, who sets the rest of the plot in motion when he reveals that he was murdered by his brother. The murdered king wants revenge and Hamlet applies all his dark energy toward that end.
This Hamlet [is] played masterfully by Vince Eisenson…lively and dynamic presentation…with modern-day costuming, minimal sets, and intimate, tiered seating, immerses the audience in old English murder and mayhem.
There is no equivocating here. As played by Eisenson, Hamlet is willing to sacrifice all to achieve his ends, and everyone suffers in his wake. The royals create their own destiny, but the real victims here are the friends and attendants who are dedicated to them and are destroyed by their plotting and deviousness. Horatio (Brendan Edward Kennedy) is the loyal, long suffering friend who has misgivings about Hamlet’s instructions but enacts them out of love for his friend. Kennedy plays him with so much angst and misgiving that he breaks your heart. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (Dagan Brown and Briana Manente), Hamlet’s goofy and likable friends from school, are likewise unwittingly caught up in cross-machinations and meet bad ends because of it.
Polonius (DeJeanette Horne) is the epitome of a devoted employee and good father. He does his best to figure out whether Hamlet is up to something or just losing it, while also trying to keep his children on the right path. His son Laertes (JC Payne) is played beautifully as an energetic, modern young man, eager to see the world. He obviously loves and respects his father as he begs his leave to return to his life in France. His return to avenge his father’s death adds one more layer to the thick fabric of crossed purposes and bad ends.
Ophelia (Elana Michelle) is perhaps the saddest casualty of the play. She is portrayed exquisitely as a gentle, delicate soul who is not up to the events about to overtake her. At first thrilled by Hamlet’s declarations of love in a beautifully poetic letter, she immediately realizes the difficulty of entering into a relationship with the heir to the throne. She dutifully shares her letter with her father, which leads to more people trying to use her in their own plots…and she wilts a little at each encounter. Hamlet is willing to sacrifice his love for her to exact his revenge on the king, and her downward spiral destroys her.
Claudius (Marcus Kyd) is the most familiar figure in the play. Helped by the modern garb worn by the actors, he presents as a suited, slimy politician that can talk and weasel his way out of any situation. He is smooth and unflappable, certain in his abilities and his right to the crown. Like Hamlet, he is the epitome of ends justifying the means, wavering only for a moment when found out. As the two do battle, and bodies pile up, it is uncertain who will win in the end.
Queen Gertrude (played by Leslie Malin) is an enigma: is she part of the king’s schemes or is she wearing blinders that leave her a victim? Regardless, her feigned or real ignorance is inexcusable, and she is led to the same fate as the other royals.
“Hamlet” is Shakespeare’s longest and most often produced play, and probably his most beloved. The lessons are still timely and the characters familiar. This lively and dynamic presentation at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, with modern-day costuming, minimal sets, and intimate, tiered seating, immerses the audience in old English murder and mayhem. What better way to spend an evening?
Running time: Two hours and 40 minutes, with one 15-minute intermission.
“Hamlet” runs through May 28, 2023 at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, 7 South Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD, 21202. For more information and tickets, call the box office at 410-244-8570, email boxoffice@chesapeakeshakespeare.com or go online. Online ordering for shows will end three hours prior to the performance. Any remaining tickets will be available for purchase at the Box Office one hour before the performance.
