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Hamlet at the Public Theater, directed by Kenny Leon: 7/25/23

2/5 ⭐️

For my first ever NY Shakespeare in the Park, I was disappointed. Although my expectations were not set very high, it still managed to disappoint. Overall, it suffered from distracted direction, confusing design elements, and a lack of energy, that even a production in the middle of its run could not explain.

The one standout was Solea Pfeiffer, who portrayed both the care indicated in “a noble mind is here o’erthrown” along with the anger of a woman scorned, as naturally as breathing.

While Daniel Pearce had the whole audience laughing, as the bumbling Polonius, he stole the show (or at least the first act), a flaw I credit far more to Leon than Pearce himself.

As far as direction went, the royal family and Laertes simply lacked interest in the events of the play. The confusing combination of echoing sound, projections, and Hamlet Sr. lip sync was a disservice to the inciting incident for the whole play, and the scenic design left more questions than it did reinforce any thematic or literal aspects.

However, for a free production of Shakespeare, it told a compelling story and managed to render most of the plot comprehensible. Perhaps once their curtains draw near, the actors will have found the passion to make Hamlet seem like Hamlet again.