I Hate Hamlet

Ponca Playhouse hired me as a director on this project. I ended up designing the set, props, sound, and violence as well. Luckily, one of my students, Truman Hague was willing to take on light design. This is my favorite kind of show to direct. A show that has realism at times and absurdist comedy at other times.

I was introduced to this show as a Fight Director many years ago. The actors were not the most comfortable with a sword at first, but we managed to make a fun and thrilling fight that the audiences loved while not taking them out of the show. My tech elements for this show were based off of the real apartment. When we get to the moments of magic, the use of sound and lighting made the audience aware of something otherworldly going on.

One issue I had with the script is the outdated non-consent based sexual comedy. We didn’t make it completely G rated, but those blocking moments were either erased or altered to be less creepy. Especially with the lead actress being played by a student of mine, I did not want there to be any question of inappropriateness. I brought in my usual intimacy director, Emily Rose Parman, and made sure my cast was comfortable with the story we were telling.