Reviewed by Tony Annicone

 

Contemporary Theater Company’s current show is “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead” by Tom Stoppard. This play expands on the exploits of two minor characters from “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare. Written in 1967, the title characters are the leads and Hamlet, himself has a smaller part. The two characters are brought into being within the puzzling universe of this play, by an act of the playwright’s creation, and those they encounter, often confuse their names, as they have interchangeable yet periodically unique identities. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are portrayed as two clowns, two fools who are in a world beyond their understanding. They can’t identify any reliable feature of the significance in words or events because their own memories are unreliable or incomplete. They misunderstand each other constantly as they stumble through their philosophical arguments where they often state deep truths during their nonsensical ramblings. However, they depart from these ideas as quickly as they come to them and at times one appears more intelligent than the other but this position is changed back and forth during the show. After they witness a performance of “Murder of Gonzago”, they take a boat trip to England with the Player and her acting troupe where they are ambushed by pirates, lose their prisoner, Hamlet and eventually resign themselves to their fate. Director Chris Simpson infuses his cast with high energy and elicits some comic and bawdy performances that enthrall the audience all night long.

He blocks the show wonderfully and keeps the show in constant motion with topnotch pacing. Chris makes the show understandable to the audience. Costume designer Lydia Troiano supplies the cast with some gorgeous period costumes. Delivering tremendous performances are Rebecca Magnotta as Rosencrantz and Laura Kennedy as Guildenstern who are onstage almost the whole time during this three act play. They bring the characters to life with strong line delivery with Laura as the more astute character while Rebecca’s character is more emotional and less on the ball intellectually. The shtick that Chris gives them is brilliantly performed especially funny is when Rebecca removes her belt to stop Hamlet from passing by but instead constantly has her pants around her ankles, winning much laughter from the crowd and one of Laura’s comic bits is when she stabs the leading Player with comic results ensuing. They have splendid onstage chemistry together.

 

The other lead is Valerie Tarantino as the Player. She shows comic timing and wonderful delivery of her lines. Is the Player just funny or is there something more crafty and sinister behind the comic antics? The powerful delivery and funny antics at running hither and yon with the acting troupe performing death scenes over and over again with hilarious results. Other talented performers, Caroline Morey, Sami Avigdor, Neal Leaheey, Ashley Macamaux and Sean Marran are the Tragedians while Tammy Brown plays the moody, Hamlet while Nancy Winokoor plays Gertrude, his long suffering mother. Andrew Stigler plays the crafty, Claudius while Kelly Robertson plays the ethereal, Ophelia Ryan Sekac plays the skeptical, Polonius. So for a wonderful rendition of Stoppard’s absurdist, existentialist play, be sure to catch “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead” at Contemporary Theater Company before time runs out. You will laugh heartily at the antics of this excellent cast.

ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD (27 April to 19 May)

Contemporary Theater Company, 327 Main Street, Wakefield, RI

1(401)218-0282 or www.contemporarytheatercompany.com