This two act play involves a very popular TV matinee idol who is
currently between gigs and insecure about his acting talents after only
being cast in fluff parts. His aging agent has landed him the part of
Hamlet in the free Shakespearean production series in Central Park
promising him that if he succeeds in this role he’ll greatly enhance
his resume as a great actor. But then again, Andrew knows, that if he
flops it could be disastrous to his career.
Besides this dilemma, Andrew would be working for little or no money.
But there’s yet another hitch—Andrew hates Shakespearean works
especially “Hamlet”. But, Andrew’s virginal girlfriend, a total
romantic, is now looking at him in a new light. She’s totally smitten
with the idea of Andrew playing Hamlet and Andrew is getting desperate
to advance his and Deidre’s (whom he loves dearly) relationship to the
next obvious level. Playing Hamlet could be his salvation in that
department.
Now add to all this Andrew’s recent move into the apartment once owned
by the greatest Hamlet of all time (John Barrymore), his real estate
agent’s penchant for conjuring up ghosts (in this case that of John
Barrymore himself), his theatrical agent Lillian’s push towards
anything involving the late “sweet prince” (once her lover) and, a
visit by Andrew’s pushy Hollywood friend (Gary) dangling a
multi-million dollar contract for a new TV series (another fluff role)
which Andrew needs to sign immediately, foregoing the Hamlet gig and
moving to the west coast.
Will Andrew give up a chance to make a guaranteed obscene amount of
money just to, hopefully, bed his girlfriend by taking a part he hates
and only tentatively thinks he can even succeed doing? There, in a
nutshell, gives you the formula for another great comedy, the vehicle
most preferred by SPAO and its audience.
SPAO is happy to announce that Paul Nooney, a veteran actor of several
of SPAO’S great comedies will be rejoining SPAO playing the ghost of
John Barrymore in “I Hate Hamlet”. As this show’s director, I look
forward to once again exploring Nooney’s fine talents and proclivity
towards comedy. Nooney has always been a favorite with SPAO’s faithfuls.
Linda Yurschak