by William Shakespeare
Riverside Theatre in the Park | 2013
"Riverside Theatre in the Park is not in the park this year; it's been moved to West High's auditorium due to flooding. However, the company has adapted well to the new space, and Riverside's production of Hamlet, directed by Kristin Horton, retains the quality expected of both the festival and of Shakespeare's most famous tragedy...Horton's attention to the emotional realities of the story takes what could easily stray into exaggerated melodrama and gives it an intimate, realistic feel. In this she follows Hamlet's advice to the players: "suit the action to the word, the word to the action, with this special observance, that you o'erstep not the modesty of nature." The company's commitment to naturalism, and the close exploration of the character's relationships, makes this a deeply touching and very thought-provoking Hamlet. With this approach, characters who seem preposterous on the page can be very sympathetic." - Iowa Theatre
"The current production of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” is worth your time, whether you know the play well or are experiencing it for the first time. Under the direction of Kristin Horton, the cast performs a largely unadorned version of this most famous of plays, highlighting the Bard’s language and the story’s emotional resonance." -- Hooplanow.com
Photos by Bob Goodfellow