Go big or go home. That’s the thinking behind a bold move to stage Hamlet at Santa Catalina School in Monterey, where it can be seen for a handful of nights until Jan. 23.
This most appreciated – by contemporary critics and theaters – of Shakespeare’s plays has been adapted for a school stage by director and Santa Catalina alumna Lara Wheeler Devlin, who regularly picks ambitious material for the all-female school, believing they deserve to be thrown in the middle of important and timeless social and political issues.
In the Santa Catalina adaptation, we find Hamlet (Zay Mohan-Black, senior) as a potential student of the University of Wittenberg, a German institution associated with the Reformation. He is mourning the death of his father in the castle that now belongs to his uncle – allegedly his father’s killer, King Claudius (Irene Kim, junior), who has since married Hamlet’s mother.
The events mortify Hamlet, leaving him unable to build his own life. That doesn’t stop him from becoming a villain himself. While generally emotionally aware, Hamlet manages to harass – sexually and emotionally – poor Ophelia (Vivi Taylor, sophomore), seemingly just for the fun of it. Mohan-Black presents her own version of Hamlet, a likable and intelligent douchebag.
The play demands many roles, introducing all types of student actors to the stage, which on its own is a pleasure to see, hear and witness. Kim, as ruthless Claudius, is engaging, forcing the audience to hear Claudius’ every word.
The cast is international, representing countries such as China, Mexico, Korea and Ukraine. Santa Catalina’s stage is spacious and impressive, and the production crew did a marvelous job when it comes to designing and building the set. These were master carpenter Reed Scott and scenic carpenter Brian Saxton. The lighting design was done by Heather McAvoy; the light board operator is student Isabel Li. Student stage manager is Ellie Stallings.
The atmosphere during the first dress (and last tech) rehearsal was collected and professional, which promises a worthy series of performances.
“This is the best play ever written,” Devlin says.
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