Hamlet Reviews

Chicago Reader - Recommended

"...The cast features adults with Down syndrome who draw on their own anecdotes and experiences to reimagine Shakespeare?s story of vengeance, grief, and doubt. The result is a compelling and fresh 95-minute collage of scenes reflecting on the isolation and misunderstanding they face in their lives."

Talkin Broadway - Highly Recommended

"...As the preceding description implies, the show is anything but a straightforward retelling of Hamlet. Late in the show, one of the actors explains that in the performances, every member of the cast, at one point or another, takes a turn at playing the Melancholy Dane, handing off (or occasionally demanding) a plastic crown to mark the transition. And they look to one another and to the great performances of the role for advice and inspiration, to both hilarious (there is an absolutely side-splitting scene that involves Olivier) and moving effect."

Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended

"...The show incorporates stirring visuals by Lucho Soldevilla that includes a mother giving birth to a baby with Down syndrome, and clever and sophisticated use of live video feed, including what may be a camera in Yorick?s skull. One of the most moving and beautiful moments in the show is where the three women become Ophelias and give alternative dream lives, ending with the drowning with a white dress floating down from the rafters and onto a woman while blue water projections rise on the screen."

Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...This is not a traditional Hamlet where Shakespearean dialogue dominates the performance. Instead, the actors weave the text into their own lived experiences, making the story even more personal and resonant. From the dramatic opening projection of the King of Denmark's birth-visually striking and graphic-to the ghostly plea for revenge, the production is both thought-provoking and visually arresting."

Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended

"...Presenting HAMLET in a whole new light, Ms. De Ferrari mainly focuses on adapting and directing classical works. She?s especially interested in presenting theatre that showcases individuals who go most often unseen. The result is all-inclusive productions that spotlight one particular group of individuals. Last year Chela De Ferrari presented Chekov?s THE SEAGULL with a cast of visually impaired actors. In her current presentation of HAMLET, Ms. De Ferrari has focused on how the Danish Prince is continually trying to establish his identity in a society where he feels unseen and different."

Buzz Center Stage - Highly Recommended

"...Whether you've seen HAMLET onstage or not, you owe it to yourself to see this production of Shakespeare's most famous play. The entirety of the plot is preserved, the most celebrated lines retained ("get thee to a nunnery!"), augmented and enlivened by the actors' own experiences."

Allie and the After Party - Highly Recommended

"...I'm always intrigued by what different companies Chicago Shakes decides to invite to their stages and share their work. And as other members of The After Party will attest to, my first response to this show was, why is everyone doing Hamlet right now (check out our review of Fat Ham at the Goodman if you don't believe me?. But I'm happy to report that Teatro La Plaza's version of Hamlet gave a completely different angle than just another run-of-the-mill production."