Sophia Abbott '07

A comedic spin-off of Hamlet with humor SO risqué it had to be edited and an opening scene involving a stage littered with dead bodies: this fall's production of Fortinbras, which opened on November 1, was anything but ordinary. A period piece with a contemporary twist, the play demonstrated a crowd-pleasing uniqueness.

The cast alone distinguished itself from previous shows. Fortinbras had a higher turnout for tryouts than any other DA play. Forty-one people auditioned for only fifteen roles: the average turnout for previous auditions was twenty-two.

This year, seven out the fifteen the performers were new to the Deerfield acting scene. Among them was Drew Hardigan '06, who played the title role. "I've never done this kind of script before but I can say this is the most professional set I've been on. It's a lot of fun," he said. Alongside him were veterans such as Ansley Rubinstein '06, Steve Kemp '07, and Cameron Williams '07, whose performances in previous plays have wowed audiences. The mix of experienced and inexperienced actors created a lively atmosphere on set that was augmented by the play's outstanding props and witty script.

The play began with a corpse-strewn stage and continued to gain momentum throughout. Special effects gave the play an edge. Not only did a bed spookily glide onto the stage, but there was a character trapped inside a television. Through a lot of practice and hard work, both effects were smoothly executed. Costumes made up of tapestries and luscious robes adorned each of the characters. The set, a life-like medieval castle, was the biggest ever in a Deerfield play. Overall, Fortinbras made for a visually pleasing experience.

When asked for a few words to describe the play, the cast collectively replied, "Swordfighting, ghosts, romance, and Polish maidens." These elements are what gave Fortinbras its charm. It could not be placed under just one category.

While Charles McSpadden '06 claimed to have stabbed John Sabo '06 upward of ten times, Bjorn Ahbel '09 also said, "It gets pretty steamy in here." Ahbel was referring to the play's several love scenes. Fortinbras's blend of humor, action and romance made it enjoyable for everyone.

Perhaps the play's best quality was its comical script, written by Lee Blessing. "I had never read the script [before]; I found it interesting and funny," said John Reese, head of the drama department, when asked why he chose this play. The script was originally written with adult humor in mind. In order to make it appropriate for the Deerfield community, Mr. Reese had to make a few adjustments. However, he maintained its humor and thanks to his hard work and that of the actors, Fortinbras remained a laughter-provoking piece.

As published in the November 9, 2005 issue of the Deerfield Scroll, the monthly newspaper of Deerfield Academy.