By Nevaeh Porter, Arts Editor
From Oct. 1 through Oct. 4, the Aquinas Theatre program put on William Shakespear’s “Hamlet”.
This past week, the Aquinas Theatre program showed William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” as their first play of the year. “Hamlet” is about a man named Hamlet who goes on his life walk after learning the truth about what happened to his father. His life walk involves him creating a play to watch his uncle’s reaction and flush out his confession. After killing his mother’s friend, he drives himself mad and gets sent away to England Throughout the story, his love dies, his mother ingests poison meant for him, Hamlet then forces the uncle to drink that same poison, is struck by a poisoned sword and strikes another with a poisoned sword, killing not only himself, but the opponent as well.
This play wouldn’t have been possible without the production team as they are an important part of everything that happens behind the scenes. The production team begins with Kristen Roberts who is for the first time teaching and directing at Aquinas. She has degrees in Psychology and Theatre from Cornerstone and Calvin, topped off with an MA in Theatre History, Literature and Criticism from Michigan State University. The rest of the team consists of Penny Avery, Communication Department Chairperson and the Theatre Program Director, Kelsey Edwards, scenic designer and technical director, senior sound board designer assistant and board operator Rhodey Matzke, senior assistant stage manager and head running crew Cristiana Worthams, sophomore stage manager Ash Vanrooyen and sophomore Lauren Espy as the theatre program assistant.
This crew is one of the most essential parts of any production. These are the people behind all of the costumes and costume changes, the makeup that helps show the emotion needed for the scene and the creators of the look that fits the script. The hair and makeup crew for this production was costume and property designer Jess Luiz, costume and props crew members Makennah Rousseau, Gionna Bean and freshman Jorja McFarland.
“Hamlet” Cast (Axle Kwiatkowski, Zoebelle Bean, Kerrigan Smedley,) and Crew (Rhodey Matzke) in costume with Odin the Otter – Photo by Cristian Zacharias
Without the cast there would be no production. The cast members were Hamlet/Francisco played by senior Reign Lawson, Horatio played by sophomore Axle Kwiatkowski, Gertrude played by senior Kerrigan Smedley, Polonius/Priest played by senior Delaney Pocevich, Laertes/Player KIng played by freshman Marie Cameron, Ophelia played by freshman Emily McCarty, Claudius/Ghost played Zachery Hanson, Gravedigger 2/Rosencrantz/Marcellus played sophomore Hailey Hooker, Gravedigger 1/Guildenstern/Barnardo played fifth-year Zoebelle Bean, Player Queen/Osric played by sophomore Lily Slabbekroon and Lucianus/Prologue played by senior Matthew Sloan.
Many actors shared some of their favorite lines. “Probably there needs no spirit from the grave to tell us this.” McCarthy said.
“Act three scene four when they’re going in Gertrude’s room and Hamlet is going crazy and seeing the ghost, but she sees nothing,” Amara German, audience member, said when asked her favorite part of the show. “Also when Hamlet stabs Polonious.”
The sets for the play weren’t just sets. The actors utilized the entirety of the sets to help bring them to life. The sets alone were designed well and drew in the attention of audience members. The crew consisted of members Edwards, Luiz, Selene Rezmer, sound designer, Gabrielle Aguilar, lighting designer, Matzke, CJ Guillermo, junior set design assistant and set construction, Worthams, Rousseau, G.Bean, McFarland, Braeden Belvedere, freshman lighting board operator and running crew members Catherine Wittkoski, freshman, and Aiden Morris.
“I liked the fact that they didn’t just use the stage,” German said. “They utilized going throughout the audience. Props to the set designers because the set was really pretty too.”
Overall, the “Hamlet” production had a successful first show of the season. Their new members got to experience what each show could feel like and returners got to return to their element.
“I think the play went really well, especially since it was the first play of the season,” McCarty said. “We had a lot of freshmen and new people, and I think it was a really good production of ‘Hamlet’ and I liked it a lot.”
“Hamlet” cast (from left to right) Cameron, McCarty, Kwiatkowski, Sloan, Smedley, Hooker, Slabbekroon, Lawson, Hansen, Z. Bean and Pocevich – Photo by Kristen Roberts
The theatre program will be starting audition processes for their next production “The 39 Steps” Tuesday Oct. 6 and Thursday Oct. 8 from 7-8 p.m. in the PAC Black Box.
