Hamlet

So closes another show! Hamlet ended this weekend, and I am incredibly proud of our daring production.

As I may have explained for Shrew, the M.O. of Bad Quarto Productions is to bring you the most authentic Shakespearean experience possible. Overhead lighting, live music/soundscapes, and a production staged entirely in a 10-hour period. Yes, we meet opening day at 10 AM and put the entire show on it's feet before the 8pm open. In this case, we finished 30 minutes before 8, grabbed some water, picked up our instruments for pre-show music, and thought "WELP, hope this doesn't fall apart!"

This kind of Shakespeare is not for everyone. Many people (of the admittedly small percentage that even have an interest in classical theater in the first place) are used to a very polished, RSC-version of Shakespeare with interesting concept, vision, and design properties. I love that kind of performance. But there is also merit to be had in stripping it down, and looking at the text as he and his troupe would have. As a script meant to entertain a drunk, rowdy audience where the stakes come solely from the actors. We rely so heavily on picking up cues, staying invested in moments, and maintaining a 20-lines/minute pace. Without total and complete commitment as actors, the play falls apart. It's an amazing exercise in performance, and churns out a truly unique product.

I expound more on my thoughts about "Bad Quartos" and performance in a blog post here on the Bad Quarto website.

Horatio is one of my favorite literary characters, and it was an honor to play him in this production. I had an amazing cast, complete with some returning members from Shrew! They are all brave, genuine, and generous performers, as well as some of the funniest, most intelligent people I know. I cannot wait to work with them again!

In other news, spring is here (or is it?) and I am only mildly excited about the change in weather. HAHA, JUST KIDDING. I cannot contain my enthusiasm for the fact that winter has (hopefully) ended. Here's to walks in the park, longer evenings, outdoor seating, hikes, outside runs, and the promise of summer!

Everyone enjoy these last bits of cold weather (I mean, not really) because hopefully they'll soon be gone for another year!