Second Age Theatre Company presents Hamlet
Marty Rea as Hamlet and Maeve Fitzgerald as Ophelia in the Second Age Production of HAMLET
Second Age Theatre Company’s second play to complete their combined Autumn/Winter 2009/2010 season, is a staging of perhaps what is Shakespeare’s greatest play, Hamlet. Directed by Alan Stanford this production will premiere at Wexford Opera House, before touring to the Town Hall Theatre, Galway, the Helix Theatre, Dublin and the Everyman Palace Theatre, Cork.
Hamlet is perhaps the most influential, most powerful and most intriguing of all tragedies in the English Language. It’s dramatic structure, proved groundbreaking at the time of writing, as the drama focused on character rather than action. It is this depth of characterisation that allows Hamlet to be analysed, interpreted and reinvented in seemingly infinite ways. The internal, individual conflict of Hamlet, is truly timeless and reflects the struggle of the human psyche regardless of time or situation.
Hamlet reaches out to modern audiences in many ways, not least in its ability to surprise with revelations of the origins of many modern day phrases. It is in fact, perhaps the most quoted play of all time, with many memorable quotes including the now ubiquitous “To be or not to be”, but others include “neither a borrower or a lender be”, “brevity is the soul of wit”, “The Lady doth protest too much” and many many more.
This latest production sees Alan Stanford directing the bard’s play, starring the superbly gifted Marty Rea in the title role. Marty was last seen in a Second Age production where he played Gar Private in the 2007 production of Philadelphia, Here I Come! where his performance was lauded by critics as “Superb” [Sunday Independent]. Supporting cast of fifteen has some of Ireland’s finest actors that include, Stephen Brennan, Barbara Brennan, Garrett Keogh and John Olohan. Together their credits include, The Tudors, Father Ted, Angela’s Ashes, The General and The Van to name but a few.
The play opens on a cold night in the Danish palace of Elsinore. The King of Denmark has been murdered by his brother Claudius, who not only takes his seat on the throne, but marries the newly widowed Queen, Gertrude. A grief stricken, and betrayed Prince Hamlet, determines to avenge his father’s death, but is consumed by a crippling inertia and agonises over his quest for revenge. The play vividly charts the course of real and feigned madness, from overwhelming grief to seething rage, it explores the themes of treachery, revenge, incest, and moral corruption.
The play also demonstrates our capacity for selfless love together with our ability to destroy others in the quest for personal contentment. It shows a world in which loving is a dangerous practise, where families are a battleground and feelings are subject to political expediency. A world where our lives are the price we must pay for obedience.
CAST Marty Rea, Garrett Keogh, Barbara Brennan, Stephen Brennan, Maeve Fitzgerald, John Olohan, David O’Meara, Shawn Sturnick, Will Irvine, Will O’Connell, Marcus Lamb, Stephen Bradley, Alan King, Robbie O’Connor, Sarah Kinlen.
Whilst, this is a secondary school curriculum play, this forthcoming production is in no way only a “schools production”. Many evening performances will be attended primarily by a non-schools audience. Given the calibre of this superb cast, and the high production values that can be expected from this Second Age production, it’s appeal will most certainly extend beyond the school curriculum.
Booking information:
Wexford Opera House. Previews Wednesday February 3 & Thursday February 4 at 1.00pm.
Opens Thursday February 4 | 8.00pm | €25 / €22 / €18. Runs until Friday February 5 | 1.00pm & 8.00pm | €25 / €22 / €18
Box Office – 053 912 2144 | www.wexfordoperahouse.ie
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