Hamlet (2002) - Director's Note
The production you will see tonight began as a vision in my mind when I studied the play for the first time as a college freshman. It took many steps and many people in the past three years to set that vision in motion and transform it from text to live theatre. Paul Rathburn began that motion when he founded the Not-So-Royal Shakespeare Company years ago and Chris Kudlacz kept things in motion when he re-founded it in 1997. Notre Dame is deeply indebted to these two men for bringing Shakespeare to this community and for providing students with the opportunity to experience Shakespeare first hand through performance. I was blessed to be in three amazing shows with the company under the tutelage of three fantastic directors, two of which I now have the privilege of working with in reverse roles. Christopher Beeley, Matt Holmes, and Dan Fisher have provided me with some of the most incredible experiences of my life. Acting under them was a genuine honor. Without their previous guidance I would never have had the confidence to take on such a grand challenge. Finally, the NSR Shakespeare officers were supportive beyond my wildest imagination. The faith they put in me, much of it unwarranted, was more than I could possibly have hoped for and how I convinced them to allow me to undertake this adventure is beyond me.
Directing Hamlet has been a truly rewarding experience for several reasons. First was the cast. They have been kind enough to lend me their talent, creativity, and hard-work for the past three months and I loathe the thought of ending the show and having to return it to them. Second was the crew. Dave Hartwig has provided me with the experience and theatre knowledge that I am so blatantly lacking. My beautiful girlfriend Mary Aimonovitch and AnaMarie Ortiz have been wonderful throughout the entire process and have willingly given of themselves and their time to take on any task I have asked of them. Dave Lodewyck’s creative genius is the only reason we have lights in this show. Enough said. Steve Hoeplinger joined our crew very recently and has already become an integral part of the production. To all these individuals I give my heartfelt thanks and beg their forgiveness for my many shortcomings as a director. Finally, I had the text of Hamlet. William Shakespeare wrote Hamlet in 1601 and four hundred years later it is still widely regarded as the greatest writing in the English language. Deception, greed, revenge and the terrible consequences they bring, the nature of true friendship, and the contemplation of human mortality are issues that we in our time still must face. My only hope is that we as a company can meet the expectations that come with this great text. I would like to leave you with a single thought.
“What a piece of work is a man.”
JJ Marler
December 2002
Directing Hamlet has been a truly rewarding experience for several reasons. First was the cast. They have been kind enough to lend me their talent, creativity, and hard-work for the past three months and I loathe the thought of ending the show and having to return it to them. Second was the crew. Dave Hartwig has provided me with the experience and theatre knowledge that I am so blatantly lacking. My beautiful girlfriend Mary Aimonovitch and AnaMarie Ortiz have been wonderful throughout the entire process and have willingly given of themselves and their time to take on any task I have asked of them. Dave Lodewyck’s creative genius is the only reason we have lights in this show. Enough said. Steve Hoeplinger joined our crew very recently and has already become an integral part of the production. To all these individuals I give my heartfelt thanks and beg their forgiveness for my many shortcomings as a director. Finally, I had the text of Hamlet. William Shakespeare wrote Hamlet in 1601 and four hundred years later it is still widely regarded as the greatest writing in the English language. Deception, greed, revenge and the terrible consequences they bring, the nature of true friendship, and the contemplation of human mortality are issues that we in our time still must face. My only hope is that we as a company can meet the expectations that come with this great text. I would like to leave you with a single thought.
“What a piece of work is a man.”
JJ Marler
December 2002