Hamlet
at Unionville High School

Reviewed on November 11, 2017

David Valentine
Sun Valley High School
Submitted for publication to Philadelphia Inquirer - 1

Shakespeare's tragic masterpiece came to life with a fresh, modern yet classical approach in Unionville's production of the play Hamlet.

Written sometime in the early 1600's by William Shakespeare, the play deals with a moody prince of Denmark dealing with his uncle marrying his mother soon after his father's death to take the throne. Betrayal and deception run rampant throughout the story of a prince on the hunt for revenge.

Unionville's modern/classical take on Hamlet was exciting and fresh. The cast performed well even with the challenge of having to convey the highbrow dialogue.

The most commanding presence on the stage at all times was Suchi Jain (Hamlet), captivating the audience with her crisp dialogue, strong facial expression, and a realized performance of madness. Though Hamlet's character arc could have been a bit clearer, she was truly a joy to watch. Jane may have been playing a prince, but she was the queen of the stage.

A wealth of supporting actors delivered amazing performances as well. Mark Jankowski (Horatio) convinced the audience of his loyalty to his prince. Rachel Tierney (Ophelia) played the part of an obedient daughter until she let the madness take her in one of the most surprising moments of the entire play. Grace Willey and Emily Lewis played the friendly spies Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and while not managing to fool Hamlet, had the audience snared with clever hints of their deception. Zachary Cannon delivered a solid performance of the ghost of King Hamlet, and Maxine Adams, though only playing the First Player for a short amount of time, gave one of the best monologues in the show.

Costume design by Dakota Kilgariff, and Olivia Yeomans had characters in dresses sitting alongside characters with ripped jeans which emphasized character personalities even further, such as the moody teen look that Suchi Jain was rocking. The set by Victoria Vaughn and Jack Landolt was a wonderful place to behold, and was complimented by stellar lighting effects by Jonathan Chidekel, Tristan Sarles, and Andrew Banardi. A great addition to the show that really brought it to life was Eric Folmar and the Rockin' Hamlets. With original music written by Folmar to accompany the play, adding tension to scenes, and rock music for transitions, the Rockin' Hamlets made sure that there was never a dull moment.

Unionville delivered a fantastic production of a classic tragedy, with modern twists to help with the comprehension of the highbrow material. It was a production to remember for all the right reasons.

Alexa Rode
Sun Valley High School
Submitted for publication to Philadelphia Inquirer - 2

To be at Unionville's production of Hamlet, or not to be? That is the question. From their phenomenal female Hamlet to their beautifully built graffiti wall, the Unionville cast and crew kept the audience on their toes and at the edge of their seats from beginning to end with their modern adaption of this classic play.

Hamlet is a play that was written in 1599 by William Shakespeare after the loss of his son. The curtain rises to a depressed Hamlet, who is in the process of mourning the loss of his father. He is called home to Denmark for the funeral just to discover that his mother has been remarried to his uncle less than a month following her husband's passing. Throughout the play, the audience witnesses Hamlet slowly spiraling into a state of insanity with an ending that goes to show why Hamlet is considered one of Shakespeare's great tragedies.

This production was impressive from beginning to end. The sets were magnificent, the pits rock and roll score written by Eric Folmar really benefited to the modern aspect of the production, and every actor and actress portrayed their roles with the emotion that would have given the bard himself chills.

Perhaps the most risky decision this show made was casting the lead, Hamlet, as a female. Suchi Jain did not fail to show why she was the absolute right choice for this part. Despite her gender, her depiction of the pessimistic prince was practically perfect. Jain really threw herself into the character, from her body language to the rather insane look she consistently held in her eyes, she never strayed focus from the action that was happening onstage, even when it was just her.

The supporting character that left jaws dropping all over the audience was Ophelia, portrayed by Rachel Tierney. This hopeless romantic won the favor of many and delivered an overall outstanding performance including several spine-chilling scenes that left the audience in awe.

The tech in the show was very impressive. The scene changes moved smoothly, even when they had only seconds for a transition in the pitch black. The lights added to the overall quality of the show, along with sounds such as the echo added when the ghost would talk that gave off the eerie vibe of the scene.

To thine own self be true, putting on a show like Hamlet is not an easy thing to do… but Unionville sure did it! Whether the talent was onstage acting or offstage working sounds and lighting, Unionville's production of Shakespeare's Hamlet proved that though the play itself may be a tragedy, the production with such a talented cast and crew was a success.

Zoe Balk
Conestoga
Submitted for publication to Indian Post

"To be or not to be that is the question", "To sleep perchance to dream", and "Goodnight sweet prince". These phrases have made their way into our everyday language from the play Hamlet. Hamlet is about a young prince's descent into madness after his father's death. Hamlet is arguably the most famous of Shakespeare's plays and Unionville High School's production is a fresh staging of it. With an actress, Suchi Jain, playing the title role modern and traditional Shakespeare crash to form something new and fresh. Miss Jain played the tortured prince with a lot of energy. The set features a wall of graffiti which pairs nicely with the original rock music performed by the "Rockin' Hamlets".

Hamlet is first introduced spray painting over King Claudius' image. This married with Hamlet's ripped black shirt and combat boots integrates the theme of teenage rebellion perfectly into the plot. Hamlet's love interest, Ophelia, was brought perfectly to life by Rachel Tierney. At first, her Ophelia was sweet and innocent. After intermission Miss Tierney transformed into a madwoman, screaming and hobbling around with only one shoe. It was a wonderful portrayal of the classic role. Although the Ghost was only on for a few scenes, the role had no small impact. The deceased King Hamlet was played by Zachary Cannon who powerfully urged his son from beyond the grave to avenge his death. Mr. Cannon's performance was powerful and eerie. Queen Gertrude (Meghan McClosky) and King Claudius (Matt Caputo) had great chemistry onstage which helped strengthen the show. Horatio played by Mark Jankowski appeared concerned for his friend Hamlet's welfare and was always in character throughout the show. The ensemble brought a lot of energy and life to their roles, which was lovely to watch. Although there were a few microphone issues, the cast pushed onward and overcame them. Overall Unionville High School's production of Hamlet was a refreshing take on a classic.

Charlotte Kalilec
Conestoga
Submitted for publication to GPC Website Review 4

To be or not to be, that is the question. These famous words along with many others have been repeated in numerous theatrical performances of William Shakespeare's Hamlet over the last four centuries. Unionville High School's refreshing modern adaptation of this well-established piece of literature is something that sets itself apart from the countless productions before it.

Hamlet, a rebellious young prince mourning the loss of his late father, is stunned when his widowed mother, Queen Gertrude, marries her late husband's brother, King Claudius, within two months of her late husband's death. Hamlet's suspicion of the two's incestuous relationship and murder of his father itches and festers in him until all who surround him are, too, infected by his insanity.

Suchi Jain gives a truly larger than life performance as Prince Hamlet; from her soliloquies to her stage fighting, Jain captivates the audience in every scene with her edgy take on this iconic character. Matt Caputo and Meghan McClosky, who play King Claudius and Queen Gertrude, work together harmoniously to create a convincingly villainous relationship enough to drive one mad. Rachel Tierney and Ashwin Akki portray the good-natured siblings, Ophelia and Laertes. Tierney's descent into madness is jaw-dropping and undoubtedly one of the highlights of the production.

Other memorable performances include Mark Jankowski as Hamlet's ever-loyal companion Horatio, Kenneth Kim as Laertes and Ophelia's father Polonius, and Zachary Cannon as the foreboding ghost of Hamlet's vengeful father.

The modern take on the play could not have been possible without the Unionville students behind the scenes. Hamlet's defiant nature was brought to life when Jain was able to spray paint Hamlet's thoughts all over a massive graffiti wall. Cannon's appearances as the ghost of Hamlet's father were highlighted by icy-blue lights and an echo effect that made the entire auditorium seem and feel hollow and chilling. The music from the pit rock band (self-proclaimed "The Rockin' Hamlets") added an unexpected energy to fit the ominous plot of the play.

Unionville High School's production of Hamlet is simply a wonderful production. The high-energy cast doesn't miss a beat of their complex dialogue, and the audience's interest will peak from the edgy, modern day adaptation of this ominous classic.