Hamlet by William Shakespeare is often considered one of his finest works. The complexity of Hamlet's internal and external world is identifiable with everyone as he struggles to find purpose and sanity in a world that feels very inside-out. Here's the who's who of the APT 2022 production.
Hamlet played by Nate Burger
The Prince of Denmark, Nephew to Claudius, son to Gertrude and the Old King, and the protagonist of this play. One of the most complex fictional characters ever written.
As a smart, thoughtful, and heartfelt young prince, we see him not only grieving his father's death, but coping with the feelings of his father's death, and having his mother remarry so quickly afterwards...to his uncle of all people! However, when he is visited by the ghost of his dead father, he is given a task that counters all of his natural qualities: to revenge his father's death through the murder of the current king.
Throughout the play, we see Hamlet think a lot. But when he decides to act, it is swift, impulsive, and does so with his rage guiding him. Some of these decisions lead to the murders of Polonius, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and the King himself.
At the end of the play, not through his deep, insightful evaluations of the world, but through his rash and furious actions, we see that Hamlet continued the cycle of violence that had killed his father, rather than halted it.
Claudius played by Triney Sandoval
Hamlet’s Uncle and the new King to Denmark. A Charismatic, confident, and ambitious King who has the idealized attitude of a man and leader. However, as the play goes on and as he recognizes that Hamlet’s “Madness” might actually be a calculated plan to undermine him, we slowly see the real king come to light; manipulative, selfish, and calculated.
Gertrude played by Colleen Madden
The earnest Queen of Denmark. She has an immeasurable amount of love for her son. However, she slowly learns just how powerless she is; both in her ability to help heal her son’s grief, as well as rule over Denmark. That being said, she never loses her faith that things will end right.
Polonius played by Chiké Johnson
The clever, insistent, all-seeing assistant to the king of Denmark.
To him, there is nothing that will stand in his way to rightfully serve his king and family. We see him instruct his daughter to end her relationship with Hamlet, use his own daughter to gather information from Hamlet, and actively spy on a private conversation between Hamlet and his mother.
Ghost of Hamlet's Father played by David Daniel
The Hell-sent, tormented, fury-filled Ghost of Hamlet’s father. He delivers the message to Hamlet that he was murdered in his sleep by his brother and demands that Hamlet accept the task of revenging his death. But is he telling the truth? Or is he simply an angry, bitter, old ghost looking to toy with Hamlet?
Guildenstern played by Ty Fanning (left) & Rosencrantz played by Josh Krause (right)
Hamlet's classmates from Wittenberg. They're initially called to Denmark by the king and queen to learn why Hamlet has been appearing down, but, slowly and unknowingly, become pawns for the king as the play goes on.
The Players
They perform an interrupted adaptation by Hamlet of the play The Murder of Gonzago.
Voltemand played by Phoebe González & Cornelius played by Laura Rook
The two dedicated and trustworthy international representatives to Denmark.
Credits:
Liz Lauren