2009-2008

News Release

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DATE: March 27, 2009

          The fourth-year graduating BFA (theatre) class at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College is proud to present, fresh from a rehearsal period in Harlow, UK, William Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet.
           Hamlet is such a famous play—so much the great drama, the one play that everyone in the world can quote at least six words from. It is no mystery that it suits the final production for a BFA class.
           Look at the plot. The prince of Denmark suspects his father the king was killed by Uncle Claudius (his father's ghost told him so) who has taken over the throne—and his mother the queen—and so he spends most of the play moaning about it and trying to make up his mind what to do about it, along with killing an innocent man, driving the woman who loves him to suicide, berating the queen, taunting the king by staging a play about regicide, escaping being murdered himself, and finally leaving the court strewn with bodies, including his own. 
            It's Shakespeare's longest play (if you have the edition with the full text….we do not). Very dramatic. Violent. Yes. Passionate and darkly reflective by turn. Yes. Yes. A lovely tale of power, intrigue and bloody vengeance.
            Now, the theatre program at Grenfell presents a fresh perspective on a well-known story, full of fast-paced action, blood, swords, guns, dancing and rock music.
The cast includes upcoming graduates Jennifer Brown, Jennifer Furlong, Elise Jordan-Robichaud, Sarah Koehn, Johnell McClelland, David Naugle, Nichelle Penney, Melissa Russell, and Owen Van Houten. Alumni Adam Brake and Andrew O’Brien as well as cross-appointed faculty member Patrick Monaghan round out the cast. Fourth Year stagecraft students Andrew Crawford, Jessica Howell and Krista Williams make everything happen behind the scenes.
              Hamlet is directed by returning Guest Artist Stephen Drover (Richard III, Picnic, Taming of the Shrew, Sam’s Shorts). Costumes and set are designed by Theatre Chair Carol Nelson and lighting design by Jim Chalmers-Gow.
Hamlet plays nightly at 8:00 pm in the Fine Arts Theatre from Wednesday, April 1 – Saturday, April 4, 2009. Tickets are available at the College Bookstore or at the Box Office on the evening of each performance. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. For more information call 637-6223.

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