Hamlet - Shakespeare in the Park

Apart from the Bible, Hamlet is the most often-quoted work in the English language and has the richest performance history of any of Shakespeare’s plays. The young Hamlet struggles to find his place in a family disturbed as much by political events as by intimate relationships. His mother’s speedy re-marriage to his uncle after his father’s death throws Hamlet into dual turmoil; barred from becoming king himself, his uncle also becomes a surrogate father. When Hamlet’s father appears as a ghost his son is commanded to take revenge.

This is the 17th summer season of Shakespeare in the Park presented by Shoreside Theatre Inc. Widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language, Shakespeare’s plays served as a mirror in which human beings saw themselves and gave the public what they wanted. This is no less true today and the numbers enjoying real Shakespeare increase every year.

In 2013, Shakespeare in the Park looks at revenge with both comedy and tragedy. Staged under the stars in the PumpHouse Amphitheatre, arguably the greatest tragedy written in the English language, “Hamlet” alternates with the suspenseful and controversial comedy “The Merchant of Venice”. Both plays are presented true to era and some of Shakespeare’s most famous quotations are to be found in them. “To be or not to be” and “If you prick us do we not bleed” are two of literature’s most celebrated lines and there are many others. Book for both shows to enjoy the best of real Shakespeare - special discounts apply.