UNews - Hamlet

Shakespeare's best on stage

trevor.kenney — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:04:22 +0000

Hamlet is the culmination of Shakespeare's profound genius at the height of his career as a playwright. It is synonymous with the classic conception of theatre; from its unforgettable imagery to its moving poetry and poignant plot.

Hamlet takes to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre stage Feb. 14-18 with performances at 8 p.m. nightly.

Directed by Brian Parkinson, Hamlet is a production that requires tremendous resources, research and creative consideration.

Shakespeare's Hamlet, under the direction of Brian Parkinson, plays Feb. 14-18 in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre.

"Hamlet is the pinnacle production in a director's career; it's the kind of play on every director's bucket list. It is the ultimate directing challenge because it is comprised of so many layers," says Parkinson.

Revenge, deception, incest, love and murder are some of the themes knitted throughout Shakespeare's script. It is also the longest of Shakespeare's works, and as such, poses numerous challenges for directors and actors.

"There isn't a single production of Hamlet that has the same script," Parkinson says. "Director's change and cut components of it, making bold choices to keep audiences riveted. In preparation, I worked for many months on the version we are using – a combination of all three editions – First Quarto, Second Quarto and First Folio. I'm confident we have a script that will engage our audience."

His father murdered and his mother remarried to the uncle he suspects of the killing, Hamlet's world has been turned upside down and into uncertainty.

Struggling to understand how this world and his mother are able to move on, Hamlet, tormented with loathing and consumed with grief, plans to avenge his father's death.
MFA candidate David Barrus designed the world in which Hamlet's tragedy unfolds.

"Barrus has created a superb setting that can infer multiple places," says Parkinson. "Our interpretation is modern; from the costumes designed by Leslie Robison-Greene to the modern weaponry, but it all exists on a very neutral stage. We've transported Hamlet's origins from ancient Denmark to an interpretation of a royal family of today.

"What interests me is framing the play in a contemporary context, so that it is relevant and understandable to the audience."

Tickets are available at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Box Office, Monday through Friday, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. or by calling 403-329-2616. Tickets are $15 regular, $10 for seniors and students.

Parkinson pushes growth of theatre community

trevor.kenney — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:40:41 +0000

Brian Parkinson, a professor in the Department of Theatre and the Dramatic Arts and associate dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, saw potential in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge when he first arrived on campus more than 30 years ago. He quickly recognized the growth that was possible for the dramatic arts and has been a leader in both establishing a theatrical culture on the U of L campus and taking that to the broader southern Alberta community.

With more than 150 productions to his credit, Parkinson has directed in both academic and professional companies in both England and Canada and he was the founding director of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's TheatrXtra summer stock company that now operates as a student focused second season in the Department of Theatre & Dramatic Arts. For the department's Mainstage season, Parkinson has directed a significant number of productions including, in recent years, Arcadia, Into The Woods, The Lark, The Mikado and Macbeth.This spring he is directing Shakespeare's Hamlet (Feb. 14-18).

Parkinson has worked for many years at establishing professional theatre in southern Alberta and his productions have played in both Alberta and British Columbia. He was the founding artistic director of Fort MacLeod's Great West Theatre and directed the company for seven years before becoming the founding artistic managing director of Lethbridge's New West Theatre Company. During his nineteen years in this position, he also directed the majority of the company's productions.

Parkinson is a past board member of both Theatre Alberta and the Canadian Association for Theatre Research. He has been a nominee for both the Rozsa Award for Excellence in Arts Management and for the Lt. Governor of Alberta Arts Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Arts. For his work with New West Theatre he was awarded the Alberta Centennial Gold Medal.He has also been recognized as one of the 100 Alberta theatre practitioners who, over the past century, have made a significant and lasting contribution to Alberta's theatrical heritage.

Richard III provides a worthy challenge

trevor.kenney — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:48:05 +0000

One of literature's most notorious villains, Richard III, charges onto the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre stage in an epic tale of treachery, deceit, seduction and murder. Playing Mar. 22-26 at 8 p.m. nightly, Shakespeare's classic takes a new form under the direction of Douglas MacArthur.

The play follows a disfigured Richard III as he plots to ascend the English throne and claim the crown from his brother, King Edward IV. Through betrayal and murder, Richard III's short-lived victory results in his tragic downfall.

MFA candidate David Barrus designed the set and lighting as part of his final project.

"Richard III is the telling of a story that suited the Tudors and royalty of Shakespeare's time," says MacArthur. "This man was born with a physical deformity that symbolizes the evil streak in his nature."

"Richard III is an expert performer, who draws in the audience as he does his adversaries," adds MacArthur. "He is on his way to becoming a deceitful dictator, and the other characters are undeniably intertwined with his actions. He's able to be what he needs to be to get what he wants, and sets the stage for his treachery."

Considered one of Shakespeare's most important works, MacArthur endeavors to make the script accessible and entertaining for audiences.

"Richard III is one of Shakespeare's earlier plays and except for Hamlet, is the longest of his works. In addition to adapting the script to suit our purposes, we've also created a completely unique world for Richard III, through an amalgamation of gothic and contemporary elements," says MacArthur.

MFA candidate, David Barrus, designed the set and lighting for the production. Barrus created the world for Richard III's tumultuous rise to victory and tragic fall as part of his final MFA project.

"The set represents the main character as architecture," he explains. "It symbolizes Richard's grip on his environment and the starkness of his character."

The contemporary costumes, designed by Leslie Robison-Greene, and electronic sound effects, designed by fourth-year drama tech/design major Josh Hellawell, complete the surreal atmosphere of this one-of-a-kind production.

Tickets to this timeless tragedy are available at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Box Office, open weekdays from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. or by calling 403-329-2616. Tickets are $15 regular and $10 senior/student.

For a look at the March issue of the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

UNews - Hamlet

Shakespeare's best on stage

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Parkinson pushes growth of theatre community

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