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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
LifestylesTheatre

CSC thespians perform Hamlet spinoff

Guest Author
Guildenstern, played by Molly Thornton, senior of Riverton, Wyoming, acts like a puppet as Tragedian 2, Nathan Wojciechowski, junior of Gering, is the puppet master controlling what happens Tuesday, during a dress rehearsal of “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead’ by Tom Stoppard.--Photo by Sara Tweet
Guildenstern, played by Molly Thornton, senior of Riverton, Wyoming, acts like a puppet as Tragedian 2, Nathan Wojciechowski, junior of Gering, is the puppet master controlling what happens Tuesday, during a dress rehearsal of “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead’ by Tom Stoppard.–Photo by Sara Tweet

If you are looking for a play that gives you some fancy wordplay, dirty jokes, and an existential crisis all in one package, “Rozencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” just might be what you are looking for. Originally written by Tom Stoppard with a debut in 1967, the play is a solidly written story following the exploits of “the Prince of Denmark’s college buddies” as they struggle with being jammed into the Shakespearean classic, Hamlet.

The storyline itself can be a little hard to follow at first. The play is written in such a way that the viewer is to be just as confused as the two main characters (Rozencrantz and Guildenstern). The style changes depending upon which supporting character comes out to join our cast. If The Player (a character from the play) arrives we can expect some dirty jokes to come with him.

As the attitude changes between characters coming and going, the lighting and music changes to fit tonal shifts. The shifts add a certain charm and feeling to the play. Others may prefer more of a subtle approach to transitioning, but I feel it fits well with the style of this particular play.

All transitioning and music was well performed by theatre staff, truly bringing you into the experience.

The characters themselves were comedic, crude, and lovable at times, with tonal shifts fitting the reaction you have. The actors did well to combine the Shakespearean style in “Hamlet” with wordplay from Tom Stoppard’s writing.

Throughout the play the two main characters ask a question that college students can often relate to: “What are we doing here?”

Therein lies the existential crisis situation. They ask themselves through the entire play if they are even alive. The question adds a bit of a dark twist to what would otherwise be a silly and happy play, dragging you from one emotional extreme to the next. The play doesn’t attempt to focus on a social injustice, but it does make you think about your life before you are brought back to another ridiculous moment.

This play is something of a mindboggling journey, but with a solid performance and excellent crew it works well to bring the experience together. I highly recommend people giving the play a shot.