Back in Shakespeare’s time, men and boys played every part, even female roles, as women were not allowed to act on stage.
Turnabout is fair play in “Women Playing Hamlet,” which premieres this month at Harrisburg’s Gamut Classic Theatre. Written by playwright William Missouri Downs, the play tells the story of an actress who auditions for Ophelia in “Hamlet,” only to end up being cast in the title role.
Gamut Theatre Group was selected to participate in a “rolling world premiere” of the play, a debut that includes just three American theaters. The actresses in the local production of Downs’ play, billed as “a comedy about the tragedy of modern life,” find it exciting to participate in a world premiere.
“There is something very freeing about working on material that hasn’t been loaded with preconceived notions of who-plays-what-and-how,” said actress Tara Herweg-Mann.
Honored
The rolling premiere is sponsored by the National New Play Network (NNPN), an alliance of theaters devoted to the development, production and continued life of new works.
Gamut’s participation was serendipitous, said Executive Director Melissa Nicholson.
The theater is a member of the Shakespeare Theatre Association (STA), which provides a forum for theaters primarily involved with the production of the works of Shakespeare.
Patrick Flick, executive director of STA and the literary manager of NNPN, had seen works by Downs in the past. When he heard the playwright had a new work with a Shakespearean theme, he sent out the word to STA members.
“I saw that communication, read the description of the play, and thought it would be perfect for Gamut to produce,” Nicholson said. “We have a talent for playing multiple roles and our women are very strong. Also, our women are sometimes underutilized in our main stage productions due to the amount of female characters available to play in Shakespeare.”
Nicholson responded to Flick’s e-mail that very day.
To produce a rolling premiere, theaters must be NNPN members and demonstrate a dedication to new works. All of the Popcorn Hat Players’ shows are new works written specifically for the company, and Young Acting Company shows recently have been full-length new works by resident playwright Sean Adams.
“In addition,” Nicholson added, “we have produced some new works over the years with a classical theme.”
Theaters that do the rolling premieres have to agree to produce the play within a 12-month period and work collaboratively with the other theaters involved and with NNPN, explained Nan Barnett, NNPN executive director.
“They receive a $21,000 award—divided among the three theaters—to cover production expenses,” she said.
The rolling premieres aim to give “life” to new plays in a way a one-time premiere often cannot—and bring cachet and prestige to the playwrights.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for playwrights to see their works done in and by three different artistic teams, facilities, actors and audiences,” Barnett said.
After filling out an application and being interviewed by the playwright, Gamut received word in July 2014 that it had been chosen.
“We are very honored,” Nicholson said
Image provided by the Gamut Theatre Group
Idea of Self
The four actresses in “Women Playing Hamlet” will play 20 roles of both genders.
Kathryn Miller plays a variety of parts—including a young actress, a Catholic priest, a male bicycle messenger, a 14-year-old female computer geek, a toothless barfly, a home-shopping network model and a young soap opera starlet.
“Being one of the first to discover the characters and perform them on stage is refreshing and unique,” said Miller.
Amy Burke portrays an unsympathetic humanities professor, the ghost of Hamlet’s father and an acting coach, while Herweg-Mann is the protagonist, Jessica.
Despite Jessica’s training and experience, the idea of playing Hamlet, this “role of roles” in the theatrical canon, is “a bit overwhelming, to say the least,” said Herweg-Mann.
Trying to find herself, the protagonist seeks help from a host of characters, and each interaction brings her closer to finding the answer to the question, “How do you define yourself?” said Downs, the playwright.
He said that he’s captivated by the idea of “self,” a search that brought him to “Hamlet” and the creation of “Women Playing Hamlet.”
“I think more truth can be found in comedy than in tragedy, for the human condition is not a tragedy but a wonderfully absurd free-for-all,” Downs said.
In addition, Hamlet is different from most protagonists in literature.
“Unlike in melodramatic movies, plays and novels, in which the protagonist knows who he is, what he wants, and what he must do to win, he first sets out to define himself to himself,” Downs added. “I’m not sure he succeeds.”
Downs has authored more than 30 plays and teleplays with a variety of themes and styles, but this is only the second time he’s used Shakespeare as inspiration.
Gamut’s actresses are delighted that Downs took the leap to rethink “Hamlet” for an all-female cast and that its premier is right here in Harrisburg.
“I had never experienced before what it is like to be one of the first actresses to play a role,” said Burke.
“Women Playing Hamlet” runs March 13 to 29 at Gamut Classic Theatre, 3rd Floor of Strawberry Square, Harrisburg. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $27. Tickets for seniors and students are $17. For tickets, call 238-4111 or e-mail Info@GamutTheatre.org.
There will be an opening night post-show discussion with the playwright, director and NNPN’s executive director. On March 14, Gamut will host an Opening Weekend Gala. Guests will have the opportunity to meet and chat with the actors, playwright and director. Gala tickets are $40 a person and $75 a couple, including admission to the performance and wine and hors d’oeuvres at the gala.
