Hamlet: Owen Sound's Roxy Theatre
Tom Albrecht: Deciding To Be or Not To Be The Famed Melancholy Dane
Hamlet's leading man: Tom Albrecht`s decision to take the role, plus Owen Sound Little Theatre director Michael Rea and play scorist Don Buchanan.
Tom Albrecht recalls being offered the role of Hamlet – a complex young man who plays many roles himself, in Michael Rea's traditional, yet innovative Owen Sound Little Theatre production.
Hamlet seems happiest when he’s hanging around with the actors, because he also plays many roles.
"I think that is definitely one of Hamlet’s facets."
What’s the deal with Hamlet and Ophelia? Is Hamlet crazy and just hides it better than Ophelia driving himself crazy with all these possibilities?
"I think it’s an examination. His mind goes there and it's capable of examining those things. I don’t know if I am but I try to look at the questions and ask them honestly. I think Ophelia is truly rattled and as she has no family left after Polonius is murdered, it’s as though her last tenuous hold is broken and she is floating on a great sea with no light – lost in the dark."
What does this production of Hamlet look like?
"It’s interesting. Our set design people have taken elements from the Franco Zeffirelli / Mel Gibson (film version) of Hamlet. It’s a stone courtyard with arched doorways and we are playing on a proscenium stage so there is that element. But the classical (Romeo) and Juliet balcony is there with staircases and six entrances, so there’s a lot of places and a lot of variety as far as “another room in the castle” goes. It’s not something that we are able to get away from. The director (Michael Rea) has definitely stuck with a more traditional sense of the play."
You also have a musical score by Don Buchanan?
"Yes. He’s a talented guy who has strong connections to the Catholic Church and the liturgy and the music of that religious institution. He also has great experience in jazz so there are some really interesting music themes in the show. There is some underscoring in the play, something that our director asked for. Michael is very interested in how music can support actors. In working with Don and talking to him about his approach to it, Michael is trying to bring music in as another character. This is something that will help support the other characters as they do their other work on the stage."
How did you get involved in this project?
“I have a sister who is married to a fellow from Owen Sound and his mother Corry LaPointe is playing Gertrude. When this began two years ago, Michael Rea talked to Corry and she through my sister knew that I had spent a couple of seasons at Stratford and had a little bit of experience in Shakespearean theatre and threw my name into the hat. Through Corry, Michael got in touch with me a about year ago, and he and I began to discuss. I took a little bit of time to decide whether or not to do this. But it’s one of those things that you may not get another crack at. I don’t pretend to have all the answers as to who Hamlet is or to be talented enough to give it all that it is due on stage, but it’s something that so tickled my fancy, I said yes.”
Part Three - Tom Albrecht discusses more about Hamlet and his favorite part. of the play.
