Extra Ham(let) on the menu for upcoming St. Michael's Drama presentation

Zech Nightingale as Hamlet
T. Lucas photos

Toni Lucas

Warning: minor spoilers ahead

What does one High School Drama Department do when the budget is cut to $8.00 for the year? The answer is in St. Michael's presentation of  'Dr. Pepper Presents Disney's Hamlet', penned by Don Zolidis. The desperate drama department uses the $8.00 to hire a consultant who 'sells' them on the idea that corporate sponsorship is the way to go. Our drama majors are a little suspicious of the ankle bracelet that the consultant is incapable of taking off, but what are you going to do with $8.00 of investment capital? The consultant advises the crew to choose a Shakespearean play based on the wisdom of: "He's dead. No royalties, and he can't sue". They rework the play to have product placement throughout supporting the sponsors missives. 

King Claudius, Queen Gertrude and Laertes frolic on the beach
 played by Emilie Charette, Rebecca Lowry and Kayden Edwards

By the end of the romp, can they still call it a Shakespearean tragedy when the final act is sponsored by Carnival Cruise Lines and Beaches Family Resorts who have it in their contract that there can be no mention of death, dying or murder? Will Carnival consider reworking their corporate vision to become the cruise line of carnage? The creative department truly has to be visionary at this point. Although creative license drives the story to the sublimely ridiculous in the effort of selling potato chips and video games, one can still recognize the basis of Hamlet around the zaniness of the messages that will be delivered to the audience. The true message may be when do we take a step back from consumerism?  That and many more questions answered in the show.

The cruise line has entertainment worthy of  royal amusement.  Hit it!

The St. Michael's students have been working on the play since January. Although the main drama department has a core of 14 students, middle school volunteers have filled the cast to about 25. "It's coming along better than I could have hoped. It is so funny," said drama teacher Diana Smith who expressed delight with the efforts of all the students. She is saddened that two of her leads are leaving at the end of the year. Zech Nightingale plays Hamlet and will be leaving to join a different school, and Emilie Charette graduates this year. "Emilie has been in drama since grade 7, and is my chief drama geek. Emilie has been with us since the beginning, and she is just fabulous." Charette is playing the part of King Clavdivs.

Charette and Lowry plot with Kayden Edwards (Laertes)

It is hard to look Disney-innocent as the body count rises...

The play is rush seating only and held at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, May 21, Thursday, May 22, and Friday, May 23 in the St. Michael's Drama room in St. Michael's School in Pincher Creek. Tickets are $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for students and are available at the school office 403- 627-3488.

Disney wants song and dance numbers...

Laertes will see Hamlet burn. He protects himself with sunscreen SPF 50.