For the final show in the Northwestern theatre department’s spring season, Director Robert Hubbard chose to take on Shakespeare’s infamously difficult “Hamlet.” However, this daunting play was not chosen on a whim. The 2023-2024 season was announced to students last spring, but the theatre professors were selecting shows long before. “For years, I did not think I would ever direct this show; it seemed so challenging and has been done so well by so many different theatre companies. But, as I get older, I am getting a little more daring,” said Hubbard. “I did not want to leave ‘this mortal coil’ without taking a stab at ‘Hamlet.’” Many students were equally excited about this opportunity to act in Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy.
Freshman Emily Espinoza said, “I wanted to participate in this show because I thought it would be a really big learning experience. From learning different ways to bring your character to life, to creating effective relationships that bring scenes together, the experiences productions bring to an individual are unmatched.” Espinoza plays Gertrude, the queen of Denmark and one of the central roles in the play. Senior Elliana Zerr, who plays Ophelia, Hamlet’s love interest, shared a similar excitement for this production. “Shakespeare’s plays can be very difficult to understand, but they come to life when they’re put on stage,” said Zerr. “Dr. Bob talked about how everyone knows Hamlet, and yet very few people have actually seen it live. It is really special to be a part of some people’s first experiences seeing Shakespeare live.” This is the first time both Espinoza and Zerr have acted in a Shakespeare play. However, the actors are not the only members of the theatre ensemble that have been working on this show for months.
Lighting designer, Drew Schmidt, said, “As designers, we started dreaming what we might do for Hamlet the day we announced the season – envisioning moments that seemed palpable.” Similarly, senior Talea Errington, the dramaturg for “Hamlet” said, “I started my research way back in October. My biggest goal as a dramaturg was compiling my dramaturgy packet to give to the designers and actors, so that they could have easy access to that information and reference it as they created their designs or developed their characters.” The role of the dramaturg is to research and help interpret the play for both the actors and the audience.
As Zerr stated earlier, one of the challenges of performing “Hamlet” is that it can be difficult for modern audiences to understand, but the writing is part of what makes Shakespeare’s work so unique. “The language is so gorgeous and honest. His use of words and rhythm conveys complex emotions so completely,” said Zerr. It is important to note that one of the roles of the designers is to make the complex language and storyline more accessible for audiences. When asked how his area of lighting design helps move the story along and helps audiences better understand what is happening on stage, Schmidt said, “Lights are fun because they help you know where to look and how to feel. Characters often break into soliloquys, and we use bold lighting to help separate the world of the play from the world of the character’s mind.”
While the complex language may make “Hamlet” feel like an old play, the story and themes explored in this show hold true to this day. “Hamlet struggles with depression, clearly, which is obviously a growing concern in our culture. Without knowing anything about modern psychology, Shakespeare poignantly and powerfully created a central character in the throes of situational depression. I think this part of the play really resonates,” said Hubbard. While “Hamlet” is a gruesome tragedy, at the heart of the play are characters audiences can see themselves in. Espinoza said, “I think the story itself is made for everyone. It is a representation of how an unjust world can corrupt even the sweetest of individuals and the hardships that stem from these misfortunes. You cannot help but sympathize with the characters.”
“Hamlet” will have its final showings Friday, April 19. and Saturday, April 20. at 7:30p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at https://nwciowa.ticketleap.com/, by calling or visiting the theatre office, or night of performance at the box office.
