Public Theatre of Kentucky presenting Shakespeare tragedy

Thursday, January 27, 2005

Public Theatre of Kentucky will bring William Shakespeares classic tragedy of love, madness and revenge to the stage with its production of Hamlet.

The play will open at 8 p.m. Feb. 4 at PTKs Phoenix Theatre and will run through Feb. 20. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. An opening night reception will be hosted Feb. 4 at the theater by The Baker Arboretum, which is also sponsoring the show.

Hamlet is probably the best Shakespeare play, PTK producing director Delia Brown said. Its the first Shakespearean tragedy weve done since Romeo and Juliet in 2001. Weve had a couple of Shakespearean comedies, but no tragedies.

PTK will offer school-day performances of Hamlet, Brown said.

Id recommend it for middle school students if theyve been exposed to Shakespeare, she said.

In the play, Hamlet prince of Denmark returns home to mourn the death of his father. Late one night, he is visited by the kings ghost, who tells Hamlet that he was murdered by his own brother, Claudius, who then assumed the throne and married Hamlets mother, Gertrude. Intent on revenge, Hamlet feigns madness and plots to kill Claudius.

Ryan Lanham plays Horatio Hamlets best friend, confidant and adviser in the play.

Hes the only person that Hamlet allows himself to trust, he said.

Lanhams love of Shakespeare began last fall when he performed in a production of A Midsummer Nights Dream at Western Kentucky University.

There are several parts in Hamlet that I would have liked to play. I love Shakespeare, he said. Hes one of the few writers that directs from the grave. You can find out everything about a character in the lines that are spoken.

Brown believes audiences will enjoy seeing Hamlet.

When you think about theater and Shakespeare, you think about Hamlet, she said. Hamlet is one of the greatest characters in all of literature.

PTK will present Hamlet at 7 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays.

For more information, call PTK at 781-6233.  Daily News ·813 College St. ·PO Box 90012 ·Bowling Green, KY ·42102 ·270-781-1700