Garden City Community College Theatre recently announces performances of Paul Rudnick’s “I Hate Hamlet” at 7 p.m. on April 18-20, and April 25-27 at KCB Bank Auditorium Stage in the Joyce Fine Arts Building.
“We’ve been laughing ourselves to tears in rehearsal,” says director Dr. Joshua Kelly. “Garden
City audiences will be beside themselves.”
Abounding in swordfights, champagne, and (of course) tights, I Hate Hamlet—the Broadway run of which ended in an infamous stabbing onstage in 1991—tells the hilarious story of Andrew Rally, a television soap-star trying to earn his stripes as a legitimate actor by playing Hamlet in New York City’s Shakespeare in the Park.
Unprepared, sexually frustrated, and untalented, Andrew is ready to quit when the ghost of John Barrymore—American acting royalty and one of the definitive Hamlets in U.S. history—appears and attempts to coach the ham-fisted amateur through playing one of the greatest parts of all time.
Featuring hysterical dialogue, riotous physical humor, and unexpected poignancy, I Hate Hamlet has been a beloved American comedy for thirty years and is a love letter to the sometimes-absurd craft of theatre.
GCCC’s production features a talented ensemble of student and community actors, an impressive design of a Gothic-meets-Baroque revival of a Brownstone apartment in New York (complete with medieval chandelier, black marble floors, and gold crown molding), and costume design by much-loved GCHS theatre teacher Robyn Hilt.
It also benefits from collaboration of several GCCC departments, including the Carpentry program’s construction of stair units and Gothic arches and the Art department’s contribution of a 10-foot-tall stained-glass window featuring the iconic actor Barrymore in Hamlet’s famous Yorick scene.
“We’ve got two primary considerations in show selection,” says Dr. Joshua Kelly, Director of Theatre at GCCC. “What shows benefit the education of our students and what do Garden City audiences need or deserve to see? Our production of The Pillowman last fall challenged our audiences to reconsider how we define good art. This production of I Hate Hamlet challenges us about our reasons for making good art, and gives our audiences a chance to see what goes into creating theatre in a way that allows us to laugh at ourselves the whole time. Most importantly, it has excellent parts for our students, a chance to utilize a couple of very supportive community members and requires a group effort from artists across multiple departments to pull off successfully.”
GCCC’s production of I Hate Hamlet stars students Ryan Pilosof as hapless actor Andrew, Johb Silva as his materialistic and theatre-hating producer friend Gary, Adriana Mendoza as Andrew’s wildly romantic lover Deirdre, and Razel Quintero as the ghost of John Barrymore. It also features community actors Taylin Ansel as Andrew’s psychic real estate agent Felicia, and Stacie Hahn as Andrew’s imperious acting agent Lillian.
Tickets are $10 General Admission and FREE to all students wherever they’re enrolled.
I Hate Hamlet contains mild adult language and sexual humor and is recommended for teenaged and adult audiences. Questions about the production can be directed to Dr. Joshua Kelly at [email protected]
