I've been told emphasis was placed on ASF's production of Hamlet being transportable to schools. So a traditional Shakespearian set (though with one staircase and one "arras" room at house left rather than center) and minimal brought-on props seem
serviceable in all respects. Important lighting sets time, place, mood. It also sometimes stands in for the Ghost of King Hamlet, casting on various levels a gangrenous green I found unfortunate. Missed was the chance to show the late King as a Hyperion to the Satyr of Anthony Cochrane's Claudius. He's thug-like from the get-go.
Nathan Hosner's a likeable if troubled Hamlet of "soiled flesh," especially talking sincerely to us in his notable soliloquies. Although he's well served by Horatio's loyalty as brought out by Matt D'Amico, they look too different ethnically and age-wise. On the same basis, Jordan Coughtry and Michael Pesoli's young Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, supposedly Hamlet's fellow students, seem miscast. Yet they bobble wonderfully and become the sycophants we're glad to see dispatched.
Giving more dignity than usual to Polonius, Rodney Clark triumphs at points where he should be taken seriously, without abandoning his comical manners and comments. Dignity also marks his daughter, as embodied by Kelley Curran. It is a pleasure to see her in the dress of the Court, rather than the wispy sort of skimpy outfit that seems made for a dip in water. Matthew Baldiga as Laertes completes the interesting family.
Surprisingly, Greta Lambert's Gertrude appears constricted emotionally. By contrast, Paul Hopper's Gravedigger achieves broad comic appeal.
Director Geoffrey Sherman gets good diction out of the actors and keeps the pace steady. His staging of the dumb show illuminates. The production should have given students good material for learning and discussion.
