Director Blake Bowen has choreographed and energized a talented, all-female cast, as the script turns the Shakespearean men-playing-women tradition upside down. Pace and energy and occasional audience interaction keep it lively.
Laura Nguyen leads the pack as the aspiring, young actress cast as Hamlet - or maybe an alternate soap-opera role — under the tutelage of Olivia Hines as her Humanities Professor/Acting Coach. Both give strong performances and are relatively easy to understand, despite the challenge of the actors being masked. The plexiglass “mouth windows” in the masks helps, but I would like to read this script and get every word.
Amélie Lepley, Makayla Morrison, Lydia Castilhos and Kallie Marrison play a myriad of fun auxiliary characters. I was particularly impressed by Makayla as Starbucks Actress and Bike Messenger and Kallie as Minnesota Mom and Bartender.
The set is minimal but a series of “media” slides (designer RaeAnna Blanck-Asbury) are wonderful enhancements - and vital to the Sir Patrick Stewart interactions. (I imagine the actor himself must have blessed this playwright with permission to use his image.)
This script is a gem for Shakespeare lovers and haters alike — with some real food for thought among the laughs. Don’t miss the THREE MORE SHOWS in this one-weekend treat at LCC’s Black Box.
Enter LCC's Gannon Building from Grand Avenue, at the small door on the south end, now with a LCC Black Box lighted marquee, which is new to me, and helpful to new audiences.
8pm Friday & Saturday; 2pm Sunday
$5 - students
$10 – general admission
Tickets sold at the door- cash and checks accepted. Limited Seating.
LCC Performing Arts Production Office, 517-483-1122
www.lcc.edu/showinfo