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Regional Reviews: Minneapolis/St. Paul Jeffrey Hatcher's Hamlet Also see Arthur's review of Gabriel
The answer is a clear yes, this 80-minute program is indeed more. The key is in the title: It is not Jeffrey Hatcher performing in a 5th grade Hamlet, or Jeffrey Hatcher adapting and directing a 5th grade Hamlet, but Jeffrey Hatcher's Hamlet. It is presented as his moment, his pivot point, upon which he decides what life has in store for him, just as Hamlet came to a threshold where he had to decide the course of his life. Thankfully, Hatcher's crossroads did not bear out such tragic consequences as Hamlet's; it did lead the way to an amazingly prolific life of playwriting, along with acting and other work in the theater. Welcoming us in an apt recreation of a circa mid-1960s elementary school classroom, the blackboard serving as a screen for projections that illustrate Hatcher's narrative, we learn about the serendipity that led young Jeffrey to suggest Hamlet as an alternative to the bauble Jerry Breaks a Date, which had seemed the popular favorite to be the year's 5th grade play. A family trip to Washington D.C. that included a visit to the Folger Shakespeare Library (more specifically, the Folger's gift shop, where an edition of Hamlet featuring the Danish prince facing the ghost of his father caught young Jeffrey's eye), then landing on the black and white Laurence Olivier film version of Hamlet while channel-surfing, and the possession of the Classics Illustrated comic rendition of Hamlet, coalesced to inspire Jeffrey to take the plunge into Shakespearean drama. Jeffrey's teacher, the erudite Ms. K. Smith, gave him four weeks to adapt Hamlet to fit the confines of a 50-minute class period, to cast, rehearse, and produce the show. While it was true that he had never actually read Hamlet, he was undaunted. Jeffrey recruited his mother to type the script as he dictated dialogue and stage directions based on the Classic Illustrated version. Through the course of the evening we learn how Jeffrey went about casting the play, including relinquishing the lead role of Hamlet, which he had assumed was to be his, to a more popular and handsome boy. We are told about efforts to unravel the workings of the plot, to help the actors understand their characters' motivations, to come up with suitable props, costumes, and scenic elements that fit in the small space at the front of the 5th grade classroom. There are trials and tribulations, and times when Jeffrey is close to giving up. At one key moment when all seems lost, Jeffrey's dad saves the day, emerging as an unexpected hero in Jeffrey's eyes. We also are privy to experiences other than Shakespeare's (by way of Classics Illustrated) text, that are what really matter. The tender crush Jeffrey feels toward one of his acting company, the competition among the cast members, the fear of looking foolish to his classmates, the combination of anxiety and exhilaration that are the result of stepping off the ledge into a new world. The play, Hamlet, was performed by a group of students for the benefit of the other students, teachers and parents. The play Jeffrey Hatcher's Hamlet is about wrestling with all the aches and pains of growing up, of discovering what you love, and the fear of failure. Jeffrey Hatcher is a splendid host for these proceedings, making every twist and turn clear, and highly engaging. His quick wit and self-deprecating manner make for a delightful 80 minutes. He does well at portraying the various personages who were part of his adventure into the heart of Shakespeare. When the screen projects his photograph as a 5th grade student, it becomes extremely evident that this boy, pudgy and wearing a deerstalker and a look of determination, was a singular personality who would blaze his own path. At the end of the program, Hatcher talks about being in touch with some of those who were part of his Hamlet, and that no one else referred to it as Jeffrey Hatcher's Hamlet. Some referred to it by the boy who actually played Hamlet, others called it the Fifth Grade Hamlet or Miss. K. Smith's Hamlet ... and we are left with the suggestion that perhaps everyone needs their own Hamlet. A wise sentiment. Sadly, many young people never do experience that opening door that gets them started on their way. We can certainly be grateful that Jeffrey Hatcher had that experience, and appreciate his warmth and generosity in sharing it with us. Jeffrey Hatcher's Hamlet continues through October 25, 2014, at the Illusion Theater, 528 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN. Tickets are $17.00 - $30.00. For tickets call 612- 339-4944 or go to illusiontheater.org. Written and performed by Jeffrey Hatcher; Director: Michael Robins; Set Designer: Dean Holzman; Lighting Designer: Mike Wangen; Stage manager: Sarah Salisbury; Production manager: Per Greibrok; Image Designs: Jonathan Carlson & Lindsay Woolward; Image Research: Kelsey Myers
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