Fall in Love With Community Theatre, I Hate Hamlet at Largo Cultural Center

When it comes to Shakespeare you either get it or you don’t. At least that has been the perception of most.

Paul Rudnick’s play I Hate Hamlet dispels that theory. 

I Hate Hamlet, a dramatic comedy written by Rudnick in 1991 and first performed on Broadway, brings Shakespearian theologies to life in the New York City apartment of actor John Barrymore.

“It’s funny, it really is,” said Kate Gaudet, director of the play presented by Eight O' Clock Theatre.

The performance by the six-member cast at Largo Cultural Center will have you falling in love with community theatre. From comedic timing, lively characters, on-spot delivery and interaction among cast members, the play was brilliantly performed and directed.

Gaudet proposed the play to Eight O’Clock Theatre last year and they accepted it. She spent a year researching Hamlet and John Barrymore's characters.

“It has the perfect blend of everything. It's a love story, it’s comedy and there’s a little Shakespeare thrown in,” Gaudet said.

Gaudet who studied theatre and directing spent the last eight years acting in Florida. After a 15-year hiatus she returned to the director’s table with I Hate Hamlet.

The play speaks to all she says.

“It’s really a play about facing your fears,” she said, “It’s a universal theme that everyone goes through. They [character] have to push passed their fears and take a leap of faith.”

Gaudet, who is originally from Oregon, has directed plays in California, Oregon, Washington and now Florida.

She relates to the play’s theme through her persistence and determination of taking on the challenging role of director. As a director, “You are the creator. It’s your vision and you have to have a clear one,”  Gaudet said.

Some of the actors are new to theater. Andrew Hughes, who plays John Barrymore, returned to theatre after 12 years. But don't expect a novice performance. His performance and comedic delivery stole the show as Heather Degray, an audience member, put it.

“I like the big guy with the beautiful legs,” she said.

“I enjoyed the cast and he was very good. I loved it,” she added.

The play is about an actor named Andrew Rally, played by Travis Moore, who gets the role of Hamlet in a Shakespeare in the park show. He then gets offered a role on a television series where he can make big bucks. Since he feels more comfortable acting for TV he battles his conscious by trying to prove to himself he can play Hamlet in live theatre.

“I feel great empathy for actors because I’ve been one,” Gaudet said, “I’m in awe with them when I see them on stage.”

The cast was like a big family on stage. Expect to fall in love with the characters, route for Andrew as he tries to overcome his fear and laugh as his quest takes you to a séance, sword fight and funny moments with John Barrymore’s ghost.

“I loved it,” said Maryann Chapen, who drove from New Port Richey to see the play.

“I like the interplay between the characters. I’d like to see it again,” she said.

Cast

The cast also includes big-haired flashy New York realtor Felicia Dantine played by Amy Dobbert; director of television series and friend of Andrew Rally, Gary Peter Lefkowitz, played by Jim Bennett; Deirdre McDavy, Andrew Rally’s girlfriend who encourages him to play Hamlet, played by Alexandra Gonzalez; and Lillian Troy, Andrew's agent played by Linda Rosenfeld.

Showtimes

July 14-16 8 p.m.

July 17 2 p.m.

Tickets $20 adults