Reed Martin, of the Reduced Shakespeare Company, brings his (and co-playwright Austin Tichenor’s) frenetic Hamlet “prequel” to the Studio Theatre at Santa Rosa Junior College and enlists an eager ensemble to answer several apparently burning questions about Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy: Why didn’t Ophelia learn to swim? Why did Hamlet know so much about the theater world? And, why was Ophelia’s mom never mentioned in the original play?
These questions left this reviewer with potentially even more after seeing the opening night performance of The Comedy of Hamlet! (a prequel), now running on the SRJC Santa Rosa campus through Oct. 12.
Such as: How much time elapsed between this story and the original? In Hamlet, the character of court fool Yorick is but a skull. Yet in this prequel, Yorick, played by Gwenevieve Nelson (making fun choices and executing a tricky Foley sequence skillfully), is very much alive. So how did they decompose so quickly? Did it have to do with the soil composition in Denmark? It’s a bit nebulous, but inspired.
Aside from inspiring this reviewer to go down the endless scholarship of Hamlet rabbit hole, the cast is energetic and sets a good pace, even in the exposition-heavy first act, which pays off with the sharper second act. Everyone gets moments to shine in a Vaudevillian sequence performed with fluid comedic timing.
Hamlet (Orion Pudoff) just wants to study philosophy, but his father, the king (boisterous Jathan Reynolds), demands he study under Yorick to learn the craft of acting.
Meanwhile, Ophelia (Josie Porter, truly committed) grapples with her unrequited love for Hamlet and the cold machinations of her mother, Lilith (Sophia McCann, a bit stiff but with obvious stage presence, and wearing two stunning costumes by Melody Decker.).
When disaster strikes, it’s Ophelia who saves the day. This play feels much more hers than Hamlet’s, though the ending discards her in favor of the titular prince, leaving a huge reveal between the two hanging in the ghostly ether. Also, once the impediment to O’s pursuit of swimming is removed, why is it suggested she drop the notion entirely?
This is a cast full of promising young actors, and they’re to be commended for their dedication to this goofy addition to the Shakespearean theatrical universe.
‘The Comedy of Hamlet! (a prequel)’ runs Weds–Sun through Oct. 12 in the Frank Chong Studio Theatre in Santa Rosa Junior College’s Burbank Auditorium, 1501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. Thur-Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 2pm. $12–$25. 707.527.4307. theatrearts.santarosa.edu.
The costumes aren’t by Marissa Cordoza, she is the costume lead who coordinates costume changes. Melody Decker designed the costumes.
Our apologies. Thank you for the correction. The review has been edited.