Invictus Theatre Presents HAMLET Review – Close Up and Personal Shakespeare

Invictus Gives Us Blood Red For Days

In the small storefront space off of Thorndale, we’re brought into this intimate world of Hamlet. The set is simple with the aforementioned tree reminding us there is something rotten in the state of Denmark and a few other structures that bring us into this world.

Blood red color is everywhere. Off to our right a red wall stands as the main castle, opening and closing to change the set as needed. A red velvet curtain hangs against the back wall, a fitting place to hide and match any bloodshed behind it. And all the furniture inside is red as well. Nothing will make us forget this is a setting where blood has been and will be split again.

As our eyes adjust to the red surrounding us, our focus is drawn to the characters that pop against this monochromatic backdrop.

Characters Run the Gamut of Emotions

Director and playing the titular character, Charles Askenaizer, takes on us on a journey with his Hamlet through many, many different emotions. In his soliloquies, the lighting changes to a single floor spot up-lighting such that his face is reminiscent of holding a flashlight under one’s chin at the campfire as you’re telling ghost stories. It feels like we’re going into the deep, dark depths of his mind.

He breaks down and collapses to the floor as his grief from losing his father is still fresh. He creates a method for his madness when he needs to deceive his family by clucking like a hen and mooing like a cow throughout the halls. We feel a respite from his struggles when he embraces Horatio, seemingly the only person he can trust. And as he laughs manically as the lights fade to black, we wonder, is he still playing or is actually going mad?

He’s not alone in delivering a multi-faceted and riveting performance, in this writer’s view. His mother Gertrude, played by Diane Sintich, also has her compelling moments as her character sees her world wrecked around her. She seems happy with this new marriage, but it all falls apart quickly. We feel her anguish as she sobs on the floor after Hamlet sees his father’s ghost again and realizes her son may have truly gone mad.

Similarly, Polonius (Darren Jones), Laertes (Michael Lewis), and of course Ophelia (Ebby Offord), give strong performances that go from one big happy family smiling proudly behind Claudius during his opening speech, to torn apart and wrecked by the royal family’s deceit.

Traditional Shakespeare

Modern setting aside, this production of Hamlet keeps it very traditional with its interpretation and use of the original text. It keeps the focus on the characters’ psyches and development throughout.

If you’re one who loves Shakespeare, dissecting Hamlet, and long drama plays, this production would be a good fit for you.

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CAST:

Charles Askenaizer (Artistic Director, Prince of Denmark), Joseph Beal (Claudius), Darren Jones (Polonius), Diane Sintich (Gertrude), Ebby Offord (Ophelia), Barry Irving (Horatio), Michael Lewis (Laertes), Jack Morsovillo (Rosencrantz, Gravedigger), Andrea Uppling (Guildenstern), Chuck Munro (Ghost, Gravedigger); and Maria Clara Ospina, Robert Koon, and Keenan Odenkirk (Ensemble).

Understudies are Keenan Odenkirk (Hamlet), Chuck Munro (Polonius), Michael Kunnari (Claudius, Ghost, Gravedigger 2), Ryan Kordana (Rosenkrantz, Guildenstern), Simmery Branch (Ensemble 1, Ophelia), Tristan Odenkirk (Ensemble 2 and 3), Xavier Dorsey (Horatio, Laertes), and Andrea Uppling (Gertrude).

CREATIVE TEAM:

Kevin Rolfs (Set/Props Designer), Isaac Pineda (Costume Designer/Wardrobe Supervisor), Chad Lussier (Lighting and Sound Designer), Glenn Thompson (Violence/Intimacy Designer), Sarafina Vecchio (Text Coach), Jessica Greenhoe (Stage Manager), Michael Shapiro (Dramaturg), Todd Faulstich (Production Manager), and Morgan Askenaizer (Associate Director).

WHEN:

Thru November 21, 2021

Sunday, November 7 – Sunday, November 21, 2021
Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 pm
Sundays at 3 pm

WHERE:

The Reginald Vaughn Theatre
1106 W. Thorndale Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60660

Note: Picture This Post reviews are excerpted by Theatre in Chicago.