Review: Intense and Haunting, The Gamm's 'Hamlet' Thrills

Shakespeare's longest play, "The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark," is so often quoted that many of its lines and passages will be familiar to even those who are least familiar with the Bard's work. Moreover, many films have used not only the play's words, but its tropes.

"Hamlet" has everything that makes a great tragedy: murder, poisonings, revenge, unrequited love, sword fights, and a large body count. The Gamm's artistic director Tony Estrella takes the center seat (as director) for this version on the theatre's 40th anniversary, having produced this particular work back in 1997 and again in 2011.

Hamlet (Jeff Church) is grieving his father's murder at the hands of brother Claudius (Kelby Akin), whose plans include nabbing the King's throne and stealing his wife, Gertrude (Jeanine Kane). Hamlet only learns of these betrayals when two sentries at the King's castle glimpse a ghost resembling Hamlet's dead father (Jim O'Brien) and the prince has a chat with the specter.

Hamlet hatches a plan to avenge his father but seemingly goes mad in the process to the dismay of Getrude and Ophelia (Nora Eschenheimer), the latter of whom he's supposedly in love with. Ophelia's father Polonius (Joe Penczak) pleads for her to reject the prince, and her brother Laertes (Marc Pierre) returns to school in France just before all hell breaks loose.

Beyond Polonius' playing both sides of the conflict, Claudius summons two of Hamlet's best friends and advisors, Rosencrantz (Abigail Milnor-Sweetster) and Guildenstern (Cedric Lilly), to warn him off of the trail of his father's murder.

This might be the most intense version of the company's productions of the play, thanks in large part to its casting. O'Brien gives the tortured spirit a spooky visage, and Kane offers a grand performance as the hapless wife and mother Gertrude. Eschenheimer brilliantly portrays Ophelia's confusion about her love, but the real star here is Church as Hamlet: His performance is haunting and intense, and must be witnessed, for it might just excite and thrill you.

The set design, courtesy of Michael McGarty, is a series of ramps, stairways, and platforms where Church and Eschenheimer feel free to leap and twist about. There are a few trap doors and curtains to hide behind, as well. The sound design is as simple as a bass drum for weaponry and scene changes, yet its stark aural landscape perfectly enhances the bleakness of the story.

Jeff Adelberg's lighting design is unique, and works well within the expansive staging. It's a huge playground for the cast, and you'll not be disappointed by these proceedings. This production starts off with tensions mounting slowly to the inevitable climax, and once it grabs you, it never lets go.

"Hamlet" is running through April 27 at The Gamm Theatre, 1245 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, RI 02886. For information or tickets call 401-723-4266 or visit www.gammtheatre.org.