Playing Hamlet onstage is tough enough, without having John Barrymore watching – especially if you’re a TV actor like Andrew Rally, famous for a TV series in which he played a rookie surgeon.
Alex Guzman plays Rally, whom we meet looking at a New York apartment to rent for the time he really *does* play his first Hamlet at the world-famous Court Theatre. His agent
The place is too fancy for Andrew’s taste – with big furniture and even art on the walls – but real estate agent Felicia Dante (Christine Hewitt) insists that this is the place for him. The reason? The place is haunted by the ghost of the legendary Barrymore. She even offers a séance to call up Barrymore.
Does that give you a clue about Paul Rudnick’s crazy play “I Hate Hamlet,” playing through June 5 at Scripps Ranch Theatre?
It gets nuttier. The reason he stays is girlfriend Deirdre McDavey (Lynnia Shanley), a pretty little thing who’s crazy about Andrew – and can’t wait to see him as Hamlet – but won’t sleep with him until they marry.
You read it right. And it was written in 1991. Go figure.
Let’s see. Oh yes, Andrew’s agent Lillian Troy (Jill Drexler) is responsible for getting him the part, and she wants him to stay in that apartment because long ago she had her own little tête-a-tête there with the master.
Director Phil Johnson and his stalwart cast play this goofy story for every laugh it offers, and they are plenty.
Kudos to the set design crew – Alyssa Kane, designer, and Nathan Waits, construction for the set that changes look as often as Deirdre does opinions.
Pam Stompoly’s costumes are as outrageous as Rudnick’s lines, from frilly ladies’ dresses to Barrymore’s all-black outfit with a big leather codpiece and oh, those black tights (which he maintains are the secret to the character.)
Sound and lighting are tricky and well handled by John Fredette and Mitchell Simkovsky, respectively.
Alex Guzman is great as Andrew, who really only wants to play Hamlet for his own selfish reasons. It’s fun to watch him play at business, love and Shakespeare in turn.
John DeCarlo’s Barrymore is exactly right: imperious, funny (especially in that costume) and anxious to finish this job so he can get out of there.
It’s a joy to see SRT’s former artistic director Jill Drexler back onstage as agent Lillian Troy. She’s always good to watch.
Christine Hewitt does an amusing turn as pushy real estate agent Felicia Dante.
Lynnia Shanley has the unenviable task of making Deirdre both adorable and maddening. And she succeeds brilliantly.
Adam Daniel’s TV guy Gary Peter Lefkowitz amuses as he tries to convince Andrew to go back to TV, where he belongs.
If you’re looking for a fun and very funny evening of theater, take a ride out to Scripps Ranch Theatre. You won’t regret it.
“I Hate Hamlet” plays through June 12, 2022 at Scripps Ranch Theatre at the Legler-Benbough Theatre, Alliant International University, 9783 Avenue of Nations.
Shows Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m.
Tickets: (858) 395-0573 or scrsppsranchtheatre.org
COVID policy: Must wear a mask inside the theater.
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