There were no weak links in this accomplished ensemble. Everyone's superlative acting talent burned, and the marks of expert direction (from choreography to elocution) have pressed into these young performers. They will remain impressed. Delivering theater more powerfully than it's written predicts their future greatness.
Twelve Nights has a strong script and a top-notch cast...As directed by Brian Gillespie, the cast flits in and out of roles at breakneck comic speed. There are clear clown and commedia influences in this production and the cast ably performs some rocking '80s tunes to great effect!
Directed by Brian Gillespie, the theme of this performance is control and manipulation, which the cast accomplishes masterfully through a wide variety of styles of puppetry. From the hilarious opening hand puppet show to the Japanese bunraku-style figures and surreal shadow puppet dream sequences, it becomes clear by the end that everyone, in fact, is a puppet in a larger scheme...What Hamlet Isn't Dead brings to this production is an innovative look at how puppetry and theatrics can sometimes tell a story with more truth than strict realism can.
Director Brian Gillespie used simplicity to his advantage. In his staging, the multi-locational play was suggested by pieces, including the clever removable lampshade turned IV drip bringing us from bedroom to hospital room. One of the most beautiful moments of the play was Beatrice’s bus monologue. Combined with Murdoch’s gorgeous words and Gillespie’s ingenious staging, LeMoine recreated a bus and its passengers with liquor bottles, highlighting Murdoch’s imagery.
Gillespie keeps the pace quick and uses fun gimmicks like toy boats and helicopters to lend to the zany mood of the play...Loved the triple-threat wooden hoop that serves as a dressing-table mirror, a ship’s wheel and a car steering wheel.
Director Brian Gillespie utilizes his stage very well. His use and reuse of different props and set pieces to fit into different scenes is innovative and heightens the comedy...Overall the play is very well directed with laugh-out-loud humor.
Director Brian Gillespie did a wonderful job at keeping the stakes high and the action moving.