Laura and Samara spend their days as non-profit unicorns and fill every spare minute exploring the world of musical theatre as BFFs (that’s Broadway Friends Forever). Follow @bffs613 on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
A Company of Fools are no strangers to iconic performances. The troupe’s Torchlight Shakespeare in the Park performances are always an Ottawa summer highlight, and their rendition of Hamlet is no different.
The Fools’ approach is not what you might recall from most high school classes on Shakespeare’s works… there’s no boring reciting of language you barely understand. The energy, enthusiasm, and humour the Fools bring even to a tragedy like this makes the play more lively and accessible to modern audiences.
With slightly different staging this year in a catwalk or traverse stage setup, audiences can view Hamlet from both sides with complete visibility. Inspired by traditional fairy tales, this year’s costumes lean into the fantastical with grand outfits and neon colours. Elevating the experience is the live music performed by Alli Harris, which not only brings consistent bouts of humour but helps to set the tone and energy of the show.
Photo: Laura Gauthier.
Perfect for audiences of all ages (despite the expected mass amounts of death), Hamlet’s cast members take on multiple parts and masterfully carry the energy and engagement of the show. Maryse Fernandes as a female Hamlet has a lot on her shoulders and pulls it off flawlessly. Andrea Massoud jumps between multiple roles and no doubt fulfills her calling as a master puppeteer as she plays both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern simultaneously. Micah Jondel DeShazer, Mitchel Rose, and Jacqui Du Toit round out the troupe, bringing big laughs and drama mixed with some very sinister behaviour.
The biggest thing we always love about any Fools performance we’ve seen is the sheer joy with which it’s presented. What’s better than being out with your friends and neighbours at your local park taking in live theatre that’s put on with energy and passion and is really made for the people? This isn’t some high art snooty presentation at all—the Fools invite you into their colourful shabby coat to feel the warmth that is community theatre.
ACompany of Fools’ Hamlet takes place at various parks across the city Mondays through Saturdays at 7pm until August 26. The performance runs 90 minutes and is pay-what-you-can with a suggested amount of $20.
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