2nd Story Theatre’s Delightfully Silly I Hate Hamlet


Let’s be honest — summer is a ridiculously tough time for theater producers. The weather is just so darn nice these days, who wants to trade those gorgeous sunset views for the inside of a dark theater? Ah, well my friends, rest assured that I have a winning recommendation for you. Get thee to Warren’s 2nd Story Theatre for their latest summer offering of I Hate Hamlet by the hilarious Paul Rudnick.

I Hate Hamlet is a perfect example of Paul Rudnick’s scathing wit and wicked, laugh-a-minute writing style. Tom Bentley stars as Andrew Rally, a hot young TV actor whose hit show ‘L.A. Medical’ has just been cancelled. He retreats to New York City where his quirky chatterbox of a real estate agent (engagingly played by Isabel O’Donnell) has scored him an unbelievably epic gothic apartment, the former home of acting legend John Barrymore. His devoted agent, Lillian Troy (played by Paula Faber) has booked him for the role of a lifetime – Shakespeare’s Hamlet in Central Park.

Of course, there is a big hitch in this perfect scenario. Young Rally hates the play with a passion but soon realizes that chances are pretty high that when he takes the role, his eternally virginal girlfriend Deirdre (nicely played by Erin Elliott), will probably find it in her heart to sleep with him. Cue the wackiest séance I have ever seen – think long distance phone call with a really bad connection – and you’ll get the basic idea.

Entering dramatically upstage in a clap of thunder, a whiff of smoke and a gale of audience laughter is the ghost of the stage legend himself – John Barrymore. Played with incomparable style and aplomb by John Michael Richardson, the larger-than-life thespian arrives in full period costume, ‘half in the bag’ and ready to give Rally the acting (and life) lessons he needs to tackle the role.

Masterfully directed by Mark Peckham, the dialogue is rapid-fire and the laughs are non-stop. This is made especially so after the arrival of Rally’s high-strung West Coast friend Gary Peter Lefkowitz  (played by Charles Lafond) who brings with him a multi-million dollar offer to star in a hot new TV show. In a nice twist, Lefkowitz can see and interact with the ghost of Barrymore, a great set-up for the playwright to have a field day with the TV producer’s complete ignorance of all things artistic. (“It’s Shakespeare, right? It’s like algebra on stage!”)

 Hotshot actor Rally wrestles with his conscience, his ego, the enormity of the role and eventually Barrymore himself in a nicely executed sword fight that has the two men bounding about the apartment.

All in all, I Hate Hamlet is wonderfully done, making for a delightfully silly outing at 2nd Story Theatre – and one that still leaves time for a post show cocktail in lovely Warren.

I Hate Hamlet by Paul Rudnick, directed by Mark Peckham, continues UpStage at 2nd Story Theatre, Warren, performed in rep with Charles Busch’s Die, Mommie, Die through August 30. Regular Performances July 23, 24, 25 @ 7:30pm, July 26 @ 2:30pm and August 6, 7, 8, 9, 20, 21, 29, 30 @ 7:30pm. Call 401-247-4200 for tickets or online at 2ndStoryTheatre.com.

BONUS TIP: If you are not following playwright Paul Rudnick’s blog get on over to paulrudnick.com to catch up on his scathing take on everything theater, arts, celebrity and politics.