''I Hate Hamlet'' is a comedy-drama written in 1991 by Paul Rudnick.

Plot

Set in John Barrymore's old apartment in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

– at the time, the author's real-life home – the play follows successful television actor Andrew Rally as he struggles with taking on the dream role of

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...

, dealing with a girlfriend who is keeping a firm grip on her chastity, and playing host to the ghost of John Barrymore, who, clothed as Hamlet, has come back to earth for the sole purpose of convincing Rally to play the part. Real estate agent Felicia Dantine convinces Rally to stay in the apartment and hold a seance. Barrymore proves to be very convincing (challenging Andrew to a sword fight in the middle of the New York loft), and Andrew decides to play Hamlet. But when a Hollywood friend shows up offering Andrew a new role in a television pilot, with a potentially large salary and fame, Andrew is forced to choose between

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...

, whom his ''girlfriend'' loves, or television, where ''he'' is loved by millions.

Original production

The play was originally produced on Broadway in the

Walter Kerr Theatre The Walter Kerr Theatre, previously the Ritz Theatre, is a Broadway theater at 219 West 48th Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S. The theater was designed by Herbert J. Krapp and was constructe ...

, opening on April 8, 1991. The show was directed by Michael Engler, set design Tony Straiges, costume design Jane Greenwood, lighting design Paul Gallo, sound design, and fight choreography B. H. Barry. The cast starred Caroline Aaron (Felicia Dantine), Evan Handler (Andrew Rally), Jane Adams (Deirdre McDavey), Celeste Holm (Lillian Troy), Nicol Williamson ( John Barrymore), and Adam Arkin (Gary Peter Leftkowitz).

Controversy

Nicol Williamson, who played the role of John Barrymore in the initial Broadway production, was notoriously mercurial, and gradually alienated most of his fellow cast and crewmembers. This animosity culminated in an injury to co-star Evan Handler during an onstage sword fight.

Evan Handler, a co-star of "I Hate Hamlet," left the stage near the end of the first act Thursday night, gave his notice, and walked out of the Walter Kerr Theater. Mr. Handler's unplanned departure came after a dueling scene with Nicol Williamson, the play's star, who apparently ignored the choreography and struck Mr. Handler on the back with the flat part of his sword. Andrew Mutnick, Mr. Handler's understudy, finished the performance.

Paul Rudnick later detailed Williamson's deterioration in a 2008 article for the ''New Yorker''.

References

Primary sources

*Rudnick, Paul. ''I Hate Hamlet''. New York: Dramatists Play Service, Inc., 1992. (Hard Copy of Play) *Rudnick, Paul. Personal History, "I Hit Hamlet," The New Yorker, December 24, 2007, p. 82

Notes

External links

Play Synopsis: I Hate Hamlet

* {{IBDB show, 4597
Paul Rudnick's article on the production
in ''

The New Yorker ''The New Yorker'' is an American magazine featuring journalism, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry. It was founded on February 21, 1925, by Harold Ross and his wife Jane Grant, a reporter for ''The New York T ...

'' 1991 plays Broadway plays Plays about actors Plays and musicals based on Hamlet Plays based on real people Plays set in New York City Plays set in the 1990s