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Community effort helps company tackle 'Hamlet' |
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FALL RIVER -- For the first time in its 67-year history, the Little Theatre of Fall River Inc. is doing a play by William Shakespeare. |
| Its
production of Shakespeare's wonderful classic tragedy, "Hamlet," opened
Thursday in the Margaret L. Jackson Arts Center at Bristol Community
Colleges. The performances will continue tonight and Saturday at 8 and
Sunday at 2 p.m. James Tavares Jr. is the director and it was Tavares who suggested that the company do "Hamlet." He said Little Theatre has been quite successful with musicals, but he found it almost embarrassing that it never tackled a Shakespearean play. "I suggested something different," he said. When his fellow members of the play reading committee asked who would direct "Hamlet," he volunteered. He teaches the play in his English classes at B.M.C. Durfee High School. With his complexity of emotions, Tavares said he sees Prince Hamlet of Denmark as Everyman. "I think you only have to look in the mirror to see Hamlet," he said. The play, proclaimed by some scholars as the greatest play ever written, focuses on his desire and inability to avenge his father's death while attempting to deal with a world crumbling around him. Tavares said Little Theatre members had their misgivings about casting the play, but when they advertised for actors and actresses, they had quite a few people, including newcomers, try out for each role. J.C. Wallace, who plays Hamlet, is from Fall River. Timothy Reid of Providence plays Laertes. Tavares sent the two of them to Providence for a few fencing lessons. Raymond Veary, an assistant district attorney who has been in other plays in New Bedford and Fall River, has the role of Claudius, the new king. Claudius, Hamlet's uncle, becomes his stepfather when he marries Gertrude, Hamlet's mother. Ophelia, who walks a fine line between madness and being madly in love with Hamlet, is played by Nora McGilvray, a high school student from Marion. Nancy Leary, who returned to Fall River after living in Maryland for 20 years, plays Gertrude. Other leads are David Mello as Polonius, Hamlet's long-winded adviser and the father of Laertes and Ophelia; Kevin Robinson as Rosencrantz and William Soares as Guildenstern. In addition to the leads, there are 60 or 70 of Tavares' students from Durfee involved on stage. "They've seen the rehearsals. They've seen me block the play. They've built sets. I give them a lot of credit," Tavares said. Students also have minor roles in the coronation scene and the famous play within the play. Since most of them have never been in a play before, Tavares said, "Hamlet" is their introduction to theater. Little Theatre is trying to draw young people to its ranks so the students' involvement in the play benefits them and the company, too. The students worked all last weekend on a set that looks like it was created by professionals, Tavares said. He said Little Theatre is greatly indebted to BCC for making the theater available and to Shawn Elliott, staff assistant, for his technical expertise. The Arts Council helped by providing a grant that Tavares used for costumes. Fran Petiska, costume supervisor, did a wonderful job and the costumes are spectacular, Tavares. Some of them were loaned by Tom Marcello of the Case High Theater Company in Swansea. "It's a real community effort," he said. Little Theatre has staged other tragedies, but "Hamlet" is its first classical tragedy. Tavares said it's been a major undertaking and the most difficult play he's ever directed. He has previously directed "Cabaret," "The Crucible," "Anything Goes," "A Chorus Line," and "The Boys Next Door." Christine Pelletier is the production's stage manager. Little Theatre's "Hamlet" is a three-hour play, which Tavares cut from a play that ran for four hours and five minutes. He said he couldn't cut any more than that without hurting the plot. Single tickets are $12. Call the box office at 508-675-1852 for reservations and information. Kathleen Durand may be reached at kdurand@heraldnews.com. |
| ŠThe Herald News 2002 |
