The tragedies "Romeo and Juliet" and "Hamlet" are two of William Shakespeare’s best known and most read works. However, what would have happened if, instead of being torn between two sides in his love for Juliet, Romeo had instead gone to a party and fallen in love with the dashing Prince Hamlet? This concept is explored when Hidden Insanity debuts "Romeo & Hamlet" at the Pumphouse Theatre this February 16th to 26th.

"The original idea came out of a meeting where we were trying to plan our season last summer. We had talked about in the past, doing something Shakespeare without doing an actual Shakespeare play," director Jonathan Chapman told GayCalgary.com. "We were joking around with names and someone said "Romeo and Hamlet" and started shooting around ideas of what it would be like. We decided to go for it and write it, despite how crazy that was. Kevin Stefan and I sat down and started working on it, and early on we realized that what the issues were in Romeo and Juliet and in Hamlet had parallels to the current political situation – two lifestyles in conflict, and a conservative family. One of the Uncles says quite a few things that someone like Ralph Klein might say. What got us excited about this project is the political situation in Alberta. Things are really coming to a head, and it parallels with the play."

It has been a whirlwind since the two started writing last July. By September they had an audition script, and by October had the concept fully down on paper. According to Chapman one of the advantages of a homegrown production is the ability to tweak along the way. That said, there has certainly been insanity behind Hidden Insanity.

"We don’t usually work with a cast this big. With nine actors playing eleven roles, scheduling has been a gong show, as well as trying to find things like a Viking helmets and other odd props and costumes. At the same time I think we have really been building excitement in the cast as everything comes together. Although it has been a lot of work it has been fun. We have a wide range of experience in our actors, for someone a little newer to theatre to be speaking what isn’t quite your own language can be a challenge. I am really pleased with how it’s going, but it isn’t the easiest project we have ever done."

Chapman describes the tale as a condensed blend of both original works.

"The reason Juliet is at that party is she is engaged to be married to Hamlet (Luigi Riscaldino). Romeo (Lee Weselak) and his characters come from a more alternative lifestyle, so when Romeo falls in love with Hamlet it’s no big deal. He is just in love and that is what matters. Hamlet however is betrothed to this woman for political reasons. His Uncle has murdered his father and taken the throne, and is pressuring him to marry Juliet. As he strives to juggle the pressures of his new found love, his arch-conservative family, and his quest for revenge, he must also keep his secrets from the woman he is sworn to marry: Hell hath no fury like a Juliet scorned.  It is a tough place because he has feelings he doesn’t know what to do with on one side, and his family, who is making him conform at least long enough to get his revenge. As the play goes on we waffle back and fourth between the two plays. We’ve condensed two three-hour plays into an hour and twenty minutes."

The show stays true to Shakespeare.  Half of the script uses his original words, just spoken by a different character, while the rest is written in prose and iambic pentameter. There is poison and tragedy, and many of the best-known scenes are included, such as the play in Hamlet, and the Balcony scene from Romeo & Juliet.

"It is a scene that everyone knows, but it’s changed. Romeo says ‘What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east and Hamlet is the sun.’ and waxes eloquently about his passion for Hamlet. We think its funny, because it’s Shakespeare, and so well known."

The pressure was on to put together a play that was fun, yet still respectful of Shakespeare’s original works. Chapman feels they have succeeded in this goal.

"It is pressure for certain. However, I think...what was fun about this is that there are still mainstream releases of Shakespeare, these characters are very much alive in our culture. [We] use those things as a language to say something else.  We love those plays but we can’t treat them too carefully. We had to rip stuff out, and move things around, and cut down long speeches. People who know those plays will see what we’ve done as clever. It celebrates how we all still love that, but also...someone who isn’t that familiar with the plays will enjoy it too."

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Contributor Jason Clevett |

Topic Hidden Insanity | Theatre |