HAMLET • St. Louis Shakespeare Festival

When Michael Khalid Karadsheh’s black-suited, grief-stricken Prince delivers his first soliloquy in St. Louis Shakespeare Festival’s 25th Anniversary production of Hamlet, everyone else onstage freezes, and you just know things are likely to end badly for this young Danish royal, along with much of the cast for that matter. Whether it’s Robert Eggers’ The Northman or Disney’s The Lion King, the narrative backbone of these tales is similar; the protagonist is driven to vengeance after his father, the King, is murdered by his uncle, who usurps the throne and hastily marries the queen.

The storms that swept through St. Louis a couple of weeks ago caused considerable damage to the Festival's set and lights in Shakespeare Glen, but this excellent staging opened as scheduled thanks to the herculean efforts of the staff and volunteers who came together to repair and rebuild, with impressive results. Scott C. Neale’s distinctive T-shaped set is a bit of a marvel. Its upstage space is like an open, two-tiered hallway with painted murals against the walls, where cast members are poised at the top of the play - a striking tableau. Later, a modular center section draws your eye to a unique view of... well, a pivotal death. You’ll know it when you see it. And a patch of earth that lies at the foot of the thrust serves as a constant reminder of the sudden passing that sets everything into motion.

Brady Lewis (Trumpet Player),
Hamlet (Michael Khalid Karadsheh)
and Ghost (Larry Paulsen).
Photo credit: Phillip Hamer

When the ghost of Hamlet’s father charges him with avenging his death, Hamlet’s mind is sent reeling. He decides to feign madness to mask his attempts to uncover the truth of his father’s demise, and his introspective crisis of confidence begins. Karadsheh’s Hamlet is set apart by a performance that isn’t manic, but halting and apprehensive. Not brooding, but solemn. All without losing the ability bring out the character’s wit or to show flashes of nasty contempt. He’s accessible in a way that engages you from the start, and his "What a piece of work is a man!" monologue, that I’m admittedly more familiar with from the musical Hair, is fantastic.

Hamlet (Michael Khalid Karadsheh),
Gertrude (Jennifer Ikeda)
and Claudius (Glenn Fitzgerald).
Photo credit: Phillip Hamer

Glenn Fitzgerald is Claudius, the calculating new King of Denmark, whose ambition edges ahead of any moral qualms he might have about his actions. Jennifer Ikeda hits all of the right notes as Hamlet’s mother Gertrude, who sports dark sunglasses at the start, seemingly carried along in the current of her circumstances, but later bends under the cloud of suspicion that hangs over her first husband’s death, and concern for her son’s mental well-being. Ophelia is Hamlet’s love-interest and daughter of the King’s advisor, Polonius (a terrific Mark Nelson) and sister of Laertes (Grayson DeJesus, a last-minute replacement who stepped into the role with only a few hours of rehearsal time, and was superb). Sarah Chalfie deftly embodies the role, whether enduring harsh words hurled at her from Hamlet, or mournfully descending into her own madness. Horatio is Hamlet’s closest and most trusted friend, and Reginald Pierre perfectly personifies his steadfast alliance and level-headed concern.

Ophelia (Sarah Chalfie),
Laertes (Vaughn Pole, initially cast)
and Claudius (Glenn Fitzgerald).
Photo credit: Phillip Hamer

Though a fair bit of the actors’ lines suffered from missed cues on opening night, Brandon Wolcott’s sound design and jazzy score greatly complement the production, punctuating moments with ominous tones, with Brady Lewis adding his free-flowing musical flair as the Trumpet Player. Neale’s scenic design is beautifully lit by Denisse Chavez, with lighting that ranges from eerily dazzling to bold simplicity, while Oana Botez’s costumes inform the characters with vintage style.

Director Michael Sexton’s inspired vision and the designers’ execution is fluidly interwoven, and his actors give vocally eloquent, top-notch performances. Get thee to Shakespeare Glen, and take in St. Louis Shakespeare Festival's absorbing production of Hamlet.

Gertrude (Jennifer Ikeda) and
Hamlet (Michael Khalid Karadsheh).
Photo credit: Phillip Hamer

HAMLET

Written by William Shakespeare

Directed by Michael Sexton

Shakespeare Glen, Forest Park

through June 22 | tickets: FREE - $300

Performances Tuesday through Sunday, nightly at 8pm

Cast

Hamlet: Michael Khalid Karadsheh*

Guildenstern/Marcellus: CB Brown

Ophelia: Sarah Chalfie*

Captain/Ambassador: Max Fiorello

Horatio (Reginald Pierre), Gravedigger (Larry Paulsen)
and Hamlet (Michael Khalid Karadsheh).
Photo credit: Phillip Hamer

Claudius: Glenn Fitzgerald*

Player Queen/Lady: Daisy Held 

Rosencrantz/Barnardo: Mitchell Henry-Eagles*

Gertrude: Jennifer Ikeda*

Brady Lewis: Trumpet Player

Fortinbras: Charlie Mathis

Polonius: Mark Nelson*

Ghost/Player King/Gravedigger: Larry Paulsen*

Horatio: Reginald Pierre

Laertes: Grayson DeJesus*

Voltemand/Priest/Lucianus: Ryan Omar Stack

Creative

Scenic Design: Scott C. Neale

Costume Design: Oana Botez

Sound Designer/Composer: Brandon Wolcott

Lighting Design: Denisse Chavez

Stage Manager: Sarah Luedloff*

Choreography: Sam Gaitsch

Props: Laura Skroska and Katie Orr

Intimacy & Fight Choreography: Zev Steinrock

Casting by Calleri Jensen Davis

Assistant Stage Manager: Britteny Henry*

Produced by Blank Slate

* Denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of

Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States