The 5 faces of “Hamlet”

By Briana Richert ’20 on October 17, 2019

High school English has provided most of us with the basic knowledge of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, but Towson University Theatre Arts Productions hopes to shatter those perceptions in its rendition, now playing at the Mainstage Theatre in the Center for the Arts.

Director and Theatre Arts Professor David White takes a new approach to the story with a modern setting and by dividing the protagonist into five roles cast with five actors.

This show will be a loud, exhilarating experience that hopes to blow away all expectations. Throughout the play, there will be periods with more than one Hamlet on stage, and various other elements of surprise. Be prepared to hang by the edge of your seat and leave with something to think about.

Experience this thrilling production at the Center for the Arts Mainstage Theatre through Oct. 26. For showtimes and tickets, visit the TU Box Office.

For a sense of what to expect in this wild portrayal of a classic, we spoke with the five actors portraying the title character.

Michael Oduro ’22, Grieving Hamlet

BFA acting major Michael Oduro opens the show with the first introduction to the main character, “Grieving Hamlet.” In his first Shakespeare production, Oduro steps into the role of Hamlet as the character learns of his father’s death and feels wronged by his uncle. Grieving Hamlet feels the pain of loss and betrayal so strongly, and revenge seems to be a task too great to handle alone.

“I think that [Grieving Hamlet] realizes he won’t be able to right this wrong on his own, so he’s calling on other parts of himself,” says Oduro of the emergence of the many sides of the character's personality. This iconic character is no small feat to take on, even with four other actors to help out. “It’s terrifying. Because, you know, it’s just Hamlet. No pressure,” he says with a laugh. “It’s a lot of fun. But I’ve never done any Shakespeare production before, so it’s interesting to get into this type of theater that everyone’s familiar with. But, there’s a whole lot more to it than the general public thinks.”

 

Kerinne Walls ’21, Dangerous Theatre Hamlet

In the role of “Dangerous Theater Hamlet,” Kerinne Walls plays the Hamlet who devises a plan of revenge. In her first Mainstage role, the BFA acting major describes the exhilaration of the experience and the impact she hopes it will have on the audience. “I hope that they are shocked,” Walls says.

Along with the exhilarating experience for the audience, the actors also gain a valuable experience in working on the show. “It is an invaluable learning experience for me because I’m a junior now and I’m able to apply a lot of the skills I have learned in my classes up until now [to this production]. I have the chance to apply them here and that is very beneficial to me as an actor and as a professional out in the real world,” Walls adds.

 

Grant Scherini ’21, Righteous Hamlet

The third Hamlet, “Righteous Hamlet,” is played by BFA acting major Grant Scherini. This Hamlet displays the character’s sense of entitlement and is the personality that drives the character into a downward spiral through the murder of Polonius, portrayed by Department of Theatre Arts Professor Peter Wray.

In his first Mainstage production experience, Scherini describes Director David White’s interesting take on the character as a whole. “One thing our director has talked about is that if you were under the circumstances, it’s hard to imagine that you wouldn’t do the things that Hamlet does. One of the things he wanted to achieve by all of these different Hamlets is to show that anyone could be Hamlet.”

The new rendition of a classic allows students to be closely involved in the creative process. “It’s a lot of good analysis, a lot of good Shakespeare experience. But also, our director has been very open to everything so he’s really let us be creative and think of things that can add to the production,” Scherini says.

 

Cherelle Matthews ’21, Damned Hamlet

BFA acting major Cherelle Matthews stars in her second Mainstage production as “Damned Hamlet,” who deals with the aftermath of all of the previous Hamlets’ decisions. Now, it’s up to Damned Hamlet to deal with the consequences. “He’s a prince, things just go his way naturally. And now he has murdered someone that was really important to someone who is really important to him, and it’s just a lot,” Matthews explains. “So Damned Hamlet really has a lot going through his head.” With the show being so unique in style, Matthews has enjoyed seeing the production come together naturally throughout the rehearsal process. “We’re basically creating the show as we go instead of just doing what the script tells us to do. We’re molding things day by day and its really awesome to be in the process because I know the show is going to be amazing.”

 

Gina Mattucci ’20, Marauding Hamlet

With an emergency recasting, the final Hamlet, “Marauding Hamlet,” takes on an even larger sense of urgency. Now played by BFA acting major Gina Mattucci, this role encompasses all of the character’s unhinged impatience and desire for revenge to finally be carried out.

“I like to think of the last Hamlet as the ‘boiled over’ Hamlet. He has watched his other versions fail at their tasks, or he's watched them do nothing at all, over and over again, and he’s frustrated with them, which also means he’s frustrated with himself,” Mattucci says. “So, he pops his lid off and the water comes boiling out, scalding hot and dangerous.”

Stepping into the role just two weeks before opening has proved an important trial in the career of the veteran Mainstage actor. “The experience of this show will be one of the most important COFACTORS experiences that I will ever have. I threw myself willingly into this role two weeks before opening, which made me discipline myself and utilize my tools discovered in several semesters of acting, voice and movement classes to give this production the best that I could give.”