SFHS’s “Hamlet” is an Interesting Interpretation of a Tough Play

By Caden Mustoe

Spanish Fork High School’s Hamlet has a lot going for it. I will begin with my favorite aspects of the play.

1. The set was brilliant. It had many details, like columns and on the front was a cathedral. On the back of the columns were statues and they were “too legit to quit.”
2. The dancing was interesting. In between scenes, a troupe of dancers performed in dance what had just happened in the play. Choreographer Kamarei Fernandes got her group moving smoothly and with a lot of passion. But I didn’t understand it perfectly as the mirror characters weren’t wearing the exact costumes of the players onstage. I would have understood more if both the Hamlets had been dressed identically, for instance.
3. I could hear everyone. This is almost unprecedented for a high school play and many productions I’ve seen that aren’t high school. And, thank goodness, they didn’t attempt English accents, which can be iffy and choppy and distracting unless everyone does them well. This was in the Little Theater but even so, I was impressed that I could hear everyone.
4. Kenny White who played Claudius was amazing. I’ve seen him in other productions and he never fails to impress.
5. Ben Knowlton as Hamlet was pretty good, too.
6. The costumes, by Jaden Jensen (who also was the dancing Hamlet), were very good. They were period pieces and looked like the real deal.
7. Music director Maren Von Niederhausern (who played Osric) brought an interesting mix of music–orchestra mixed with dub step and sometimes just piano music. It set the mood very well.
8. Make up designers Josie Connors and Kayla Koyle (who also played Gertrude) did a fantastic job.
9. The concessions were awesome–very impressive.
10. They had some little displays as you walk down a long hallway. They were researched bits of the play, like the costume designer’s notes, and other pictures. They actually looked like very cool Shakespeare school science projects.
11. Lighting was spot on. (Pun.) But really, it was.
12. All the tech was good, to be honest. Sound board run by Lizzy Phipps.
13. Also, at the beginning of each scene, there was a recorded bit that said “Tell my story” echoing and over a few times. Then, one of the actors would turn to the narrator and say, “Tell my story!” I liked that it was different than your average Hamlet.

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There were other aspects of the play that were not my favorite, but let’s face it, Shakespeare is hard to do. Director Meg Grierson employed a narrator, Tani Lee, who also played Horatio when she pulled her hood off. It was a little confusing.

All in all, I enjoyed this show and would recommend it. Get there early and sit in the front part of the theater so you can see all the make up and details. It’s worth it.

Hamlet: Prince of Denmark

January 6-8, 2014 7:00 PM

Spanish Fork High School Little Theater, 99 N 300 W, Spanish Fork

801-798-4060

http://sfhs.nebo.edu/