The Broadway comedy follows Andy Rally and the ghost of John Barrymore, who trains him in the art of Shakespeare
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
If the ghost of actor John Barrymore is any indication of what the afterlife is like, we’re in for a treat. There’s laughter and romance, an abundance of sarcasm, and wine. Lots of wine. Doesn’t sound too shabby, right? Not at all. Except for one thing — an unavoidable desire to aid the living, no matter how hopeless and untalented they may be.
Now through Dec. 1 at the Bucks County Playhouse, Tony Award-nominee Tom Hewitt stars as the hilariously over-the-top Barrymore in the Broadway comedy I Hate Hamlet, which was written by Paul Rudnick and revamped by director Marc Bruni.
“Paul Rudnick is one of our wittiest and beloved comic writers,” said executive producer Robyn Goodman. “We are thrilled that he has allowed the Playhouse and director Marc Bruni, whose production of Beautiful continues to thrill Broadway audiences in its third year, take a fresh look at this very funny play.”
I Hate Hamlet centers around Andrew Rally, played by Ben Fankhauser (Broadway’s Newsies). The hot star of a recently cancelled TV series, Rally trades in the comfort of Los Angeles for New York, where he’s slated to enter the theater world for the first time as Hamlet. Accidentally, Rally moves into the same apartment once owned by Barrymore, who in his prime was the embodiment of the Shakespearean character. As Rally struggles with his decision, and openly expresses his hatred of his latest project, the ghost of Barrymore takes him under his champagne-clutching wing.
Throughout the two-plus-hour run time of I Hate Hamlet, the chemistry between Hewitt and Fankhauser is unwavering. Both are comedic forces to be reckoned with on stage, and their personalities bounce off each other effortlessly.
From the moment Hewitt appears in a cheesy-yet-charming cloud of smoke, nearly every line and every movement incite some laughter from the audience. Donning an all-black ensemble (and flawlessly pulling off tights), he portrays the snarky, wisecracking, borderline alcoholic ghost with ease.
“Am I dead or just incredibly drunk?” he asks.
Meanwhile, Fankhauser matches the theater veteran’s presence as he brings audiences on Rally’s whirlwind journey of emotions — fear of his new spiritual mentor, annoyance over his girlfriend’s determination to remain a virgin until marriage, apprehension about following in Barrymore’s Hamlet footsteps, and temptation to take the easy route out and move back to L.A.
A standout scene for Hewitt and Fankhauser is when they engage in a sword fight, moving catlike around the intricately-designed set as candles illuminate and suits of armor come to life. Though the show is rumored to be “haunted” by the actual ghost of Barrymore (in the original ’90s Broadway production, Evan Handler, who portrayed Rally, was physically struck with a sword when Nicol Williamson, who played Barrymore, went off choreography), the Playhouse actors have so far made it through each performance unscathed.
Also starring in I Hate Hamlet is a slew of talented actors, including Tony Award-winner Elizabeth Ashley (Take Her She’s Mine), who is returning to the Playhouse after co-starring opposite Robert Redford in the pre-Broadway production of Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park. Despite having a rather small role as Rally’s agent, Lillian Troy, Ashley’s limited scenes are some of the most memorable in the production. Constantly hacking up a lung, cigarette protruding from her mouth, her character is loud, straightforward, and just Barrymore’s type.
Another standout is Steve Sanpietro, a Newtown resident whom The Times introduced its readers to last month. Sanpietro has returned to his theater roots after a decade as Gary Peter Lefkowitz. A “Malibu cloud,” as Barrymore calls him, Lefkowitz tries to convince Rally to move back to L.A. to star in the sure-to-be-cancelled-after-one-season Night School, on which he’d play a teacher by day, superhero by night. Though Sanpietro expressed some nerves prior to opening night on Nov. 10, he looked right at home in the spotlight.
An unexpected surprise is Liz Holtan, who plays Rally’s longtime girlfriend, Deirdre McDavey. Sporting a matronly, floor-length gown, McDavey is immediately open about the fact she’s a proud 29-year-old virgin. Slowly but surely, the character transitions from semi-unlikeable and prudish to hysterically psychotic as she longs for the love of deceased philosophers like Socrates.
Overall, I Hate Hamlet is a delightful story that touches on a number of relatable topics — finding success in life, navigating the complexities of love and embracing unlikely friendships. It’s chock-full of crude humor, and is sure to leave audience members, both male and female, questioning whether or not they could pull off tights better than Hewitt/Barrymore.
Probably not. ••
If you go…
I Hate Hamlet will play the following schedule: Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesdays at 2 p.m.; Thursdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 2 p.m. There are no performances Thanksgiving Day. Additional performances are added Wednesday, Nov. 21 and 28, at 7:30 p.m., as well as Friday, Nov. 23, at 2 p.m.
Tickets start at $45. Special discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.
For full details and to purchase tickets, visit BucksCountyPlayhouse.org, call 215–862–2121, or visit the box office at 70 S. Main St., New Hope.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at [email protected]
