To be or not to be Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
Sacred Heart juniors Elizabeth Bachmann and Kiki Ventura, and senior Emma Wilfred rehearse scenes in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Christina Weiler ’17
Eight Convent of the Sacred Heart students invite one and all to witness or not to witness the deaths and journeys of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. The small cast is preparing to present Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead in the Lennie and John DeCsepel Theater Friday and Saturday night at 7:00 pm.
The play is a new perspective on William Shakespeare’s Hamlet by following the journey of Hamlet’s childhood friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. The duo travels to Denmark to investigate Hamlet’s erratic behavior.
“This is one of the edgiest plays I’ve ever done. There is a theme of existentialism threaded throughout the plot that gives the audience something to think about,” Sacred Heart junior Elizabeth Bachmann, who plays Rosencrantz, said.
According to Middle and Upper School Drama Teacher Miss Michaela Gorman, the show essentially takes minor characters from Hamlet and puts them on center stage.
“I think the audience will enjoy the humor. Hopefully they will have as much fun watching as we do on stage,” senior Emma Wilfert, who plays Guildenstern, said.
Christina Weiler ’17
The first show is Friday, November 20 at 7:00 pm, with a following performance Saturday, November 21 at 7:00 pm. Five crew members will be behind the scenes, giving the actors various props and coordinating the lighting.
The cast has spent over twelve hours a week preparing the show. This does not include tech week, the last week before the show, where rehearsals last until 9:00 pm.
“I chose Rosencrantz and Guildenstern because it ties in with the curriculum. Some of the senior seminar classes deal with existentialist questions, and some AP English classes read Hamlet. It is also different because it is not as realistic as the shows we have done in the past. It is always fun to branch out and try new things,” Miss Gorman said.
The show is based on a loose interpretation of time. The costumes reflect a combination of time periods, as the characters dip in and out of one moment and then into another.
The costumes, organized by Miss Gorman, vary to further suggest the characters’ quests for identities. At some moments, even Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are unable to distinguish themselves, according to uknowledge.uky.edu.
Many of the costumes come from the cast members’ own closets. Sacred Heart junior Kiki Ventura plays Hamlet in the show, and wears a jacket made by Miss Gorman herself.
“I am able to really become my character once I have my costume. It helps me connect with the way the character would feel physically, which translates to a mental connection as well,” Elizabeth said.
According to Miss Gorman, the cast is excited to debut the show after several weeks of dedicated rehearsals.
“This cast is very dedicated, enthusiastic, and bonds well as a group. They are always smiling, which is nice to get to work with every day,” Miss Gorman said.
– Christina Weiler, Staff Writer
