Hamlet: Belmont High’s Fall Production More Than Just About Revenge [VIDEO/PHOTOS]

Photo: Jasper Wolf as Hamlet

Ezra Flam loves directing Shakespeare. And of all the plays in the folio, the director and producer of the Belmont High School Performance Arts Company’s production of “Hamlet” is drawn most to the tragedy of the Prince of Denmark.

“It’s my favorite Shakespeare play and so for me I love everything about it,” said Flam who is following a long-time Belmont High tradition of putting on productions of the Bard’s works with Hamlet.

“For me in particular, I do love the way the play balances comedy, introspection, serious drama and tragedy. It’s more than just a revenge story. It really is an existential rumination on life,” said Flam.

“I think Hamlet the character has so many points in the play where he particularly articulates that we make and do with our lives, and provides us an awareness and a sense of that we have a finite time on earth,” he said. 

“There are some really beautiful meditations on that theme,” said Flam.

img_8095 img_7392 img_7409 img_7705 img_7769 img_7948

Flam wants the audience to know that while this play is a tragedy – all the main characters are dead when the final curtain falls – there are times of comic relief and wit.

“I think that every play has an opportunity to have something funny, that’s just in the script,” he said.  

“Shakespeare put the gravedigger scene at the start of the last act on purpose because you need a moment after so mush drama that’s a wake up call, ‘hey, we’re not done yet. There’s more coming!'” said Flam. 

The production stars Jasper Wolf as Hamlet, Miriam Cubstead as Ophelia, Oliver Leeb as King Claudius, Maerose Pepe as Gertrude, Sammy Haines as Laertes and Lennart Nielsen as Polonius.

The clean modern stage design is by Anna Moss and Lila West created the pseudo-19th century white and black costumes while lighting is by Chris Fournier.

Performances are Thursday, Nov. 3; Friday, Nov. 4 and Saturday, Nov. 5. All performances begin at 7 p.m. in the Belmont High School auditorium.

ADULTS: $12 in advance, $15 at the door; STUDENTS: $5 (BHS Students come free on Thursday!)

WHERE TO GET TICKETS:
Tickets are now on sale at Champions Sporting Goods in Belmont Center. Tickets for students will be on sale outside the BHS Cafeteria and in the Library during select mods the week of the show.

img_7287 img_7304 img_7306 img_7314 img_7319 img_7327 img_7335 img_7366 img_7384 img_7399 img_7442 img_7460 img_7499 img_7506 img_7513 img_7541 img_7559 img_7587 img_7597 img_7607 img_7648 img_7675 img_7690 img_7725 img_7731 img_7742 img_7749 img_7778 img_7799 img_7801 img_7819 img_7897 img_7913 img_7927 img_7928 img_7972 img_8008 img_8040 img_8068 img_8089 img_8100 img_8127 img_8142 img_8187 img_8232 img_8252 img_8273 img_8314 img_8345

Tixs Now On Sale For ‘Hamlet,’ Directed by Recently Honored Educator

Photo: From the final scene of “Hamlet”. (credit: BHS PAC)

Tickets for the Belmont High School Performing Arts Company’s production of Shakespeare’s tragic play “Hamlet” are now on sale for next week’s performances.

“As usual, we’re putting our updated take on this classic story of a prince’s revenge, highlighting the play’s exploration of the human psyche,” said Ezra Flam, the Performing Arts Company’s producer and director. 

Flam, who is the high school’s Theater Specialist, has recently been selected for the University of Chicago’s Outstanding Educator Award. Students nominate an educator who has “influenced, challenged, or helped them along the path toward intellectual growth.”

“Congratulations to Mr. Flam for his hard work and dedication to the students of Belmont as their teacher, as a colleague, and as a representative of Belmont Public Schools,” said Belmont High School Principal Dan Richards.

screen-shot-2016-10-28-at-12-33-03-pm

Performances are:

Thursday, Nov. 3; Friday, Nov. 4 and Saturday, Nov. 5

All performances begin at 7 p.m. in the Belmont High School auditorium.

ADULTS: $12 in advance, $15 at the door; STUDENTS: $5 (BHS Students come free on Thursday!)

WHERE TO GET TICKETS:
Tickets are now on sale at Champions Sporting Goods in Belmont Center. Tickets for students will be on sale outside the BHS Cafeteria and in the Library during select mods the week of the show.