I Hate Hamlet Reviews

Stage and Cinema - Recommended

"...Anyone who pursues the arts as a career or avocation knows they're not well understood by the greater population. The satisfaction derived from being a creative and the commitment required to excel in a specific art form are best understood by those who share that attraction and conviction. That truth is one reason director Zach Kunde wanted to mount a production of Paul Rudnick's comically discerning I Hate Hamlet, a humorous parody of the acting profession. His current staging with the Saint Sebastian Players at St. Bonaventure on Diversey manages to be revealing, making it a worthwhile destination for its insights alone."

Third Coast Review - Recommended

"...I Hate Hamlet, the new production by Saint Sebastian Players, is a play for lovers of Shakespeare…and others. Playwright Paul Rudnick says, in his introduction to the script, that he wanted the play to appeal to “anyone who has ever had to be dragged to a high school Romeo and Juliet or a deadly all-star Julius Caesar.” So whether you loved or dreaded Shakespeare in high school or college, this may be the play for your next night out. Zach Kunde directs this theatrical comedy with a cast of six enthusiastic actors."

Splash Magazine - Somewhat Recommended

"...Saint Sebastian Players conclude their 2025/26 season with I Hate Hamlet, opening May 1, 2026. Paul Rudnick is known for works like Jeffrey and screenplays such as Sister Act and Addams Family Values. He wrote I Hate Hamlet as a satire of the actor’s life, the divide between theatre and film, and Shakespeare’s plan in a modern audience’s world. On the basement stage of St. Bonaventure, the humor takes time to surface, while several actors and designers offer strong examples of Chicago theatre craft."