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The Gazebo Players of Medfield are celebrating their fifteenth anniversary of Shakespeare in the Park this summer. After 14 years of performances at their namesake gazebo, the troupe is moving their Medfield performances to Meetinghouse Pond next to the Unitarian Universalist Church. Their first production at the new park will be “Hamlet,” often cited as the greatest play in the history of the English language.
Disney fans are no doubt aware that the much of the plot of “The Lion King” was lifted from “Hamlet.” As the play opens, Prince Hamlet (Paul Kim of Roslindale) is visited by the ghost of King Hamlet, his father. The ghost tells Hamlet that he was murdered by his brother, Claudius. (Both Claudius and the ghost are played by Peter Bradley of Norwood.) Hamlet, already upset with his uncle Claudius for marrying his mother Gertrude (Barbara Schapiro of Sharon) too closely to King Hamlet’s death, swears to the ghost to seek revenge.
The burden of revenge weighs heavily on Hamlet, and his behavior begins to change. These changes are noticed by those around him, including his girlfriend Ophelia (Ellen Pariser of Sharon), her brother Laertes (Charlie Ferguson of Cambridge), and their mother Polonia (Cynthia Small of Medfield). Hamlet’s friend Horatia (Hannah Clifford of Needham) helps develop Hamlet’s scheme to prove Claudius’ guilt, a play depicting the circumstances of King Hamlet’s death. Claudius’ reaction convinces Hamlet of what his father’s ghost said. Before Hamlet can avenge his father’s death, however, he is exiled to England with his friends Rosencrantz (Elizabeth Nelson of Easton) and Guildenstern (Reggie Joseph of Randolph). This is where “The Lion King” diverges to provide a happy ending, while Hamlet’s eventual return from exile ends in tragedy.
Rounding out the cast are three actresses each playing four roles: Juli Small of Medfield primarily plays Osric; Suzanne Greenwald of Westwood primarily plays Lucianus; and Finley Smith of Newton primarily plays Marcellus.
After serving as Assistant Director for last summer’s production of “Julius Caesar” with an all-female cast, Benjamin Medeiros of Jamaica Plain serves as Director for “Hamlet.” Medeiros has chosen to set the play in the “wild, wild west” of the United States. (Think Elsinore, Utah.) Mr. Medeiros says, “I believe this setting makes Hamlet very accessible to modern audiences who will find the Western genre familiar and vibrant. The play’s themes of betrayal and revenge make it fit well within the genre, and placing the tragic Prince of Denmark and his soul-searching monologues down among the sunny ranches and tumbleweeds counteracts a common view of Hamlet as being too dark and serious for an outdoor summertime production.” While the setting will be different, the famous language will be the same: “What a piece of work is man…,” “Neither a borrower nor a lender be…,” and, of course the quintessential, “To be, or not to be.”
All performances of “Hamlet” start at 5 PM and are free to the public. Performances at Meetinghouse Pond in Medfield will be given on July 23, 24; at Choate Park in Medway on July 30, and 31; and at the Music Court at Bird Park in Walpole on August 6 and 7. In case of rain, the Medfield performances will be at the Unitarian Universalist Church (26 North Street), the Medway performances will be at the Medway Public Library (26 High Street), and the Walpole performances will be at the Walpole Footlighters (2 Scout Road). Attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic to outdoor performances. Light refreshments will be available.
For more information or directions, please visit www.gazeboplayers.com.
The Gazebo Players’ production of Hamlet is made possible by grants from the Medfield Cultural Council and the Walpole Cultural Council, both of which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The sound system is provided courtesy of MEMO. The Walpole performances are also co-sponsored by the Walpole Footlighters, and the Medway performances are co-sponsored by the Medway Public Library and local donors.
