Essex Theatre Company Presents
Paul Rudnick’s Comedy I Hate Hamlet
Directed by Derrick A. Hopkins
August 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, & 20 at 7:30 pm and August 14 at 5:00 pm
At the newly air-conditioned Masonic Lodge, Essex, NY.
Credit cards are now accepted online (www.essextheatre.org).

Andrew Rally seems to have it all: celebrity and acclaim from his starring role in a hit television series; a rich, beautiful girlfriend; a glamorous, devoted agent; the perfect New York apartment; and the chance to play Hamlet in Central Park. There are, however, a couple of glitches in paradise. Andrew’s series has been canceled; his girlfriend is clinging to her virginity with unyielding conviction; and he has no desire to play Hamlet. When Andrew’s agent visits him, she reminisces about her brief romance with John Barrymore many years ago, in Andrew’s apartment. This prompts a séance to summon his ghost. From the moment Barrymore returns, dressed in high Shakespearean garb, Andrew’s life is no longer his own. Barrymore, fortified by champagne and ego, presses Andrew to accept the part and fulfill his actor’s destiny. The action becomes more hilarious with the entrance of Andrew’s deal-making friend from LA, spouting the laid-back hype of the Coast and offering Andrew a fabulous new TV deal worth millions of dollars. The laughs are nonstop as Andrew wrestles with his conscience, Barrymore, his sword, and the fact that he fails as Hamlet in Central Park.

“It is incredible being back at ETC,” exclaimed director, Derrick A. Hopkins. “I just ended the highly successful and dramatic run of Next to Normal at ETC, and I’m thrilled to be bringing this hilarious comedy to the stage!” He continues, “I Hate Hamlet brings lightheartedness and whimsy to the stage, which audiences will thoroughly enjoy. Each character has his or her own quirks and the actors discover new hilarity with each passing rehearsal.” Derrick concludes, “As people are enjoying the end of summer, I couldn’t think of a better way than to sit and laugh for two hours. Life has become a series of 180 characters or less, and this production (any production!) is a great way to put the phones down and come together as a community…and what better way than through laughter!”

Tickets are $10 for general admission and $8 for seniors and students. Tickets can be purchased online at www.essextheatre.org, just click on the “tickets” button or call (518) 526-4520 or email tickets@essextheatre.org. I Hate Hamlet contains adult language and is not recommended for children 14 and under.

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• 2016 Essex Theatre Company Season (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)