ICYMI: To Be or Not to Be -- An Annual Shakepeare Reading at the Princeton Public Library?

Princeton, NJ – Inspired perhaps by New York City's acclaimed and long-running annual summer Shakespeare in the Park Festival, the first Shakespeare in the Princeton Public Library took place in the Community Room on July 20. A diverse audience -- a full house -- gathered to hear actors stage an unabridged reading of William Shakespeare’s memorable tragedy -- Hamlet.

"Hamlet, Prince of Denmark" tells the story of the murder of Hamlet's father, King Hamlet, and the "over-hasty" marriage between the prince's mother and uncle. Prince Hamlet is then determined to seek justice for the murder and the consequences that befall the prince are at the heart of this most renowned of Shakespeare's plays. Through memorable dialogue and familiar quotes, the actors in the play's reading, some of whom read multiple parts, portrayed love, grief, lust, anguish and a desire for revenge to which the audience responded with rapt attention. The reading was the inaugural event of the newly-created "Obedient Madness Players Club."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE TAPINTO.NET NEWSLETTER

The reading was directed by Princeton resident Christopher Osander, a graduate of Princeton Day School and Brown University. Some of the other actors also attended Brown between 1990 and 1991, so in a sense the reading was a mini-reunion. Osander has taught acting and acted in numerous productions, including "Of Mice and Men" at the Kelsey Theater at Mercer County Community College.  His reading as Hamlet was authentic and sensitive. Osander dedicated the production to his late father, John Osander, former Princeton University director of admissions who fostered in him a love of theater.  The production was expertly co-directed by Denise Brunker, who also read several parts.

Many of us know, and probably use in our daily lives, phrases from "Hamlet" and hearing the lines read by talented actors was a real treat. Osander was genuine and expressive as Hamlet as when he stated that "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so," the proverbial "Frailty, thy name is woman," and the Queen's observation that "The lady doth protest too much, methinks" generated smiles in the audience.

Kudos to Tom Anderson who read the part of Polonius with dynamism and appropriate nuance.  His "Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice," and "Neither a borrower nor a lender be" were profound. Anderson has appeared as Willy Loman in "Death of a Salesman," Dodge in Sam Shepard's "Buried Child" and Gooper in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." He holds an MFA in theater from Rutgers-Mason Gross School of the Arts.

Joel de la Fuente's rendering of Horatio, Hamlet's good friend and a steadying hand for the more impetuous Hamlet, was stellar. De la Fuente is a New York-based actor who can be seen in two Emmy-Award-winning series, as Chief Inspector Takeshi Kido in Amazon Studio's "The Man in the High Castle" and in "Hemlock Grove" as Dr. Johann Pryce on Netflix. Theatrical credits include "Hold These Truths" (best solo performance); Claudio in "Beatrice and Benedick" with the New York Philharmonic; Valentine in "Two Gentlemen of Verona" and Iago in "Othello."

DOWNLOAD THE FREE TAPINTO APP FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS. AVAILABLE IN THE APPLE STORE AND THE GOOGLE PLAY STORE .

Speaking from the back of the room and reading the part of King Hamlet's Ghost, Brian Herrera demonstrated his commanding mastery of the play's dialogue when he declared "Something's rotten in Denmark!" Herrera is an associate professor of theater at the Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University.

We left the event with a question: Is the Obedient Madness Players Club’s Shakespeare reading to be – or not to be – an annual summer event at the Princeton Public Library? We hope the answer is yes.

To receive once-a-day updates on stories of community interest, click here to subscribe to TAPinto Princeton’s free e-mail newsletter.

Have a comment or story suggestion? E-mail rrein@tapinto.net .

For more local news, visit TAPinto.net