A Word From Our Cast

​By: Brittany Ann Meister

"Hamlet" opens next week and so I asked the cast to tell me why they think you should see our production.

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Gypsy: The production is absolutely phenomenal, the sheer talent of the cast is a wonder to behold! It's a production of epic proportions: far off places, daring sword fights; a prince in disguise! Villainy! Plots! Romance! A little something for everyone!

Hannah: I think a lot of young actors and directors think of "Hamlet" as this daunting play that they are not experienced or talented enough to tackle, but one thing we've returned to over and over again in rehearsal is how relatable the story is to young people. Youth is a time of hesitation, second-guessing, self-loathing, and questioning our own existence. If a story touches us so deeply, if we understand it and identify with it, why shouldn't we tell that story? I think VFR's "Hamlet" takes the melancholy, long-winded Dane, the hot-headed Laertes, and the Barbie-doll Ophelia (to name a few) away from those stereotypes that are often associated with this well-known play. In VFR's "Hamlet," they are just kids trying to grow up, meet the expectations of their family, and somehow still remain themselves.

Caitlin: People should see VFR's Hamlet for so many reasons, but most of all, the love and passion the cast has for the text. It it no small feat to get together with any group of people and solve for a common goal. It is even more wonderful to have that goal be making language that can be difficult accessible to a modern audience. This cast does that, with heart, bravery, and a deep affection for the story. Hamlet in our hands is no longer a text from class or a movie you've sat through. It is a story about people you know and love.

Andy: Everyone at least is familiar with Hamlet but not haven't seen it the way we do. With care and truth we are going to explore this timeless story so that everyone can really understand what it means. It has tragedy, a little comedy, and everything anyone could want in a show.

Alex: 'Hamlet is considered by many critics to be the best play of the English language, yet few critics will agree as to the definitive reason why this is so.
For me, what makes Hamlet so incredible is the titular character's relatability, and the universality of his journey. While it's true that his journey involves the supernatural, his journey ultimately stems from life's greatest equalizer: Death, and the grief he feels over his late father. Hamlet faces something which inevitably all of us go through. His struggle embodies our struggles, his thoughts our thoughts; as such, we root for Hamlet to succeed, are enraptured by his soliloquies and are moved when his success comes with the ultimate price.

Brandon: To dispell the notion that Shakespeare is antiquated and out-of-reach. It is exciting, emotional, and relatable.

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Tickets are now available! We'll see you next week!