Benefitting from the Bard

William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" may be over 400 years old but it still reverberates with modern audiences. A tale of greed, lust, revenge, deception, madness, lies and love, the play is filled with glorious monologues packed with sentences that go so deep inside the emotions of a human being. There are swordfights, love scenes, pantomimes, and "fools" who speak the truth (the "Gravedigger" scene can be stunning in its simplicity, humor, and common sense.)

Jeffery Allen, Artistic Director at Oddfellows Playhouse, has always wanted to play the lead role. Hamlet is a "bear" of a part, with lengthy soliloquies, rapid emotional changes, and much physicality. But Allen was able to persuade to a number of local actors (including the Honorable Sebastian Giuliano, Mayor of Middletown) ) to help him bring this play to life onstage. Nearly all of the proceeds from ticket sales will go to benefit the many programs that Oddfellows provides for area youth.

Jerry Winters is the director and cast members include Robert Resnikoff (Claudius), Carolyn Kirsch (Gertrude), Jackie Coleman (Ophelia), Tony Palmieri (Horatio), Nat Holmes (Rosenkranz), Jacklyn Hart (Guildenstern), Richard Kamins (Polonious), David McCamish (Laertes) as well as Peter Loffredo, Joey Martell, Myron Gubitz, Daniel Baruch, Naomi Kamins, Reverend John Hall and several others. Performances are 7 p.m. on both Friday October 3 and Saturday October 4. For ticket information and reservations, call 860-347-6143.