{image1}If the names "Shakespeare" or "Hamlet" cause you to shudder and conjure up notions of torturous high school English classes, you owe it to yourself to take the short trek to American Players Theatre (APT) this summer. Once and for all, you can shed those old, bad memories and see the English bard for who he really is: a witty observer of human behavior who can at one moment play to the paupers and then delve into highbrow symbolism the next.
And Jim DeVita knows how to bring it all to life. DeVita, who portrays Hamlet for APT, through October 4, takes confident command of the stage and brings a certain, modern realism to Hamlet. He delivers Shakespeare's English in such a natural way that the viewer "gets" what's going on -- even without the benefit of Cliff's Notes. DeVita incorporates casual, realistic gestures and mannerisms that you'd sooner expect from your friends than a Shakespearean actor.
If DeVita's accessible but forceful acting style isn't enough to convert you into a Shakespeare fan, the dark and twisted story of "Hamlet" should do the trick. Prince Hamlet is called home to Elsinore, Denmark for his father's funeral. There, he finds his mother newly married to his uncle, Claudius, who is now the reigning king. Then, Hamlet sees his father's ghost, who tells him he's been murdered by Claudius and orders Hamlet to seek revenge. No pressure.
Racked with grief and confusion, Hamlet lashes out at the people he should be able to trust: his mother, his friends and the woman he loves. Hamlet sets into a motion a pattern of destruction that leaves about a half-dozen people dead by the end of the play.
On a higher level, "Hamlet" grapples with the struggle between ethics and desire, right and wrong. Everyone will probably glean a different answer from the play, but the most interesting part is asking the questions.
"Hamlet" is one of five productions this summer at American Players Theatre. The other plays and their performance dates are: "Pygmalion," now through September 27; "The Two Gentlemen of Verona," now through October 4; "The Cherry Orchard," August 9-October 3; and "The Tempest," August 16-October 5.
For more information about American Players Theatre, call (608) 588-7401 or go online to www.playinthewoods.org. For a few tips on making the most of your trip to APT, check out OnMilwaukee.com's ABCs of APT.
