Category: Hamlet

Posted on in Burgess Byrd, Denmark, Farah Karim-Cooper, Folger Theater, Hamlet, Handmaid Anna, Kaja Dunn, Lauren Gunderson, Leartes, lifestyle, Nicole Jescinth Smith, Oneika Philips, Ophelia, Poloneus, Queen Gertrude, Sabrina Lynn Sawyer, Shakespear tragedy, Shakespeare, Shakespeare Canon, Shakespeare Plays, To be or not to be

A Room in the Castle – Ophelia’s Story

Lauren Gunderson’s brilliant re-imagining of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” shifts the spotlight from the brooding prince to the women who orbit his world. In A Room in the Castle, Gunderson accomplishes in 85 minutes what Shakespeare took four hours to convey, creating an intimate portrait focused on Ophelia, her handmaid, Anna, and Queen Gertrude. Kaja Dunn’s elegant directing delivers a thought-provoking production. Gunderson was commissioned to write the play by the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company where it opened before it’s World Premiere on March 9, 2025 at the Folger Theater.

A Room in the Castle Dress Rehearsal 85:Sabrina Lynne Sawyer, Oneika Phillips, and Burgess Byrd in Folger Theatre’s world premiereof A Room in the Castle, written by Lauren M. Gunderson, directed by Kaja Dunn, co-produced with Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, on stage at the Folger Shakespeare Library, March4-April 6, 2025. Photo by Erika Nizborski

With only illusions to the narcissistic, gaslighting Hamlet of the original text, he is never seen. Not even the skull. Instead, we witness the story through the female perspective, exploring Ophelia as a motherless young woman navigating complex relationships and expectations. The production examines her circumstances: torn between her perceived love for Hamlet, her father and brother’s disapproval of him, Anna’s protective caution, and Queen Gertrude’s insistence on their marriage. Perhaps, it is “ . . .not to be.”

The all-female cast of three, delivers superb performances. Ophelia ( Sabrina Lynne Sawyer) emerges as a fully realized character – sometimes ambivalent, occasionally petulant, but ultimately autonomous. She is transformed from Shakespeare’s tragic figure into someone relatable in the 21st Century. Gertrude (Oneika Philips) commands the stage with regal confidence and impeccable dresses. Anna (Burgess Byrd) brings love and devotion to her role, having lost her own son and finding in Ophelia someone to mother and protect. Costume designer, Nicole Jescinth Smith’s costumes were visually stunning and spoke volumes about status and intent.

A Room in the Castle Dress Rehearsal 68: Oneika Phillips, Sabrina Lynne Sawyer, and Burgess Byrd in Folger Theatre’s world premiere of A Room in the Castle, written by Lauren M. Gunderson, directed by Kaja Dunn, co-produced with Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, on stage at the Folger Shakespeare Library, March4-April 6, 2025. Photo by Erika Nizborski

As we entered the Theater, I asked my guest and daughter, Tiffany, about her expectations of the play and to tell me her take on the original characters. Her immediate reply was that, “Hamlet was a madman, gaslighting Ophelia to her demise.”  I shared that I found, “Both whiny and that she was needy and ‘a few cards short of a full deck.” Tiffany expected see a play about strength and perseverance over narcissistic dysfunction.  I hoped that she was right and that after 425 years of waiting, Ophelia would find her voice.

The audience was greeted by the newly appointed director of the Folger Shakespeare Library, Dr. Farah Karim-Cooper, “I spent the last Twenty years of my life at Shakespeare’s Globe Theater in London. Over there, I was the resident scholar and director of education and research and it’s also where visceral performance informed all of my work, so I know something about theater.  This is why I can say that I’m so inspired by the compelling and inclusive vision that’s emerging from the culture of this theater and our artistic leader Karen Ann Daniels.”  

The intimate theater space enhances the experience, with its warm wood paneling, carved columns, and half-timbered walls – reminiscent of an Elizabethan setting. The set strikes an interesting juxtaposition between the now and then. When does this play take place? That really doesn’t matter.

A Room in the Castle Dress Rehearsal 93: Sabrina Lynne Sawyer, Oneika Phillips, and Burgess Byrd in Folger Theatre’s world premiere of A Room in the Castle, written by Lauren M. Gunderson, directed by Kaja Dunn, co-produced with Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, on stage at the Folger Shakespeare Library, March4-April 6, 2025. Photo by Erika Nizborsk

What makes this production special is that it honors Shakespeare’s world while boldly asking, “why not?” As Gunderson herself stated, “The play dances and duels with Shakespeare’s Hamlet, foregrounding the women in the play and re-imagining them with agency, vitality, and radical hearts eager for a new ending,… ripping a hole in the fabric of their suffocating story… because this play is anything but hopeless and tragic.”

There were frequent laughs and knowing sighs of recognition from the audience. While I won’t reveal the ending, I can say that it offers a satisfying conclusion to Ophelia’s journey. “A Room in the Castle” proves that sometimes the most interesting stories are found not with the titular character, but in the castle’s side chambers where the women speak their truths. “Obey, Agree, Assist?” How about “Rebel, Reject, Resist.”

A Room in the Castle Dress Rehearsal 91:Sabrina Lynne Sawyer, Burgess Byrd, and Oneika Phillips in Folger Theatre’s world premiere of A Room in the Castle, written by Lauren M. Gunderson, directed by Kaja Dunn, co-produced with Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, on stage at the Folger Shakespeare Library, March4-April 6, 2025. Photo by Erika Nizborski
A Room in the Castle Dress Rehearsal 87:Sabrina Lynne Sawyer, Burgess Byrd, and Oneika Phillips in Folger Theatre’s world premiere of A Room in the Castle, written by Lauren M. Gunderson, directed by Kaja Dunn, co-produced with Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, on stage at the Folger Shakespeare Library, March4-April 6, 2025. Photo by Erika Nizborski

Perhaps the most enduring power of Shakespeare lies not in the answers his works provide but in how each generation finds its own questions within them. Through my daughter’s unflinching modern lens, I watched not another classic Hamlet, but a study in how Ophelia finally gets the chance to exist beyond being defined by the men around her.

A Room in the Castle Dress Rehearsal 93: Sabrina Lynne Sawyer, Oneika Phillips, and Burgess Byrd in Folger Theatre’s world premiere of A Room in the Castle, written by Lauren M. Gunderson, directed by Kaja Dunn, co-produced with Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, on stage at the Folger Shakespeare Library, March4-April 6, 2025. Photo by Erika Nizborski

The cast, production team, and Folger staff greeted guests in the Great Hall for an elegant and enjoyable reception. Keeping with the woman theme, DJ, Miss H.E.R., provided invigorating music at the perfect volume for conversation. The reception gave us an opportunity to express our gratitude for the many levels of remarkable talent and work and to share snippets of insight and surprises.  Meeting Dr. Karim-Cooper and Lauren Gunderson was an unexpected pleasure. Their generosity of spirit and depth of intellect and dedication to the Folger was inspiring.

The depth of intellect, knowledge, and commitment to both the production and the Folger Library Theater could have been overwhelming had not everyone been incredibly hospitable, responsive, and gracious.

Playwright Lauren Gunderson shares her creative process PC: Henkel

Meeting the cast, Sabrina Lynne Sawyer – Ophelia, and Oneika Philips – Gertrude gave additional focus to the characters. Sabrina is entirely invested in Ophelia. She wanted Ophelia to be liked and appreciated. When I shared my original opinion and how her representation changed my mind, she gave me a genuine hug and thanked me for being flexible and seeing the other side. Oneika, dressed in another stunning gown, this time in scarlet, carried herself as the regal queen that she portrayed. She was born to be the Queen. She complimented costumer, Nicole Jescinth Smith’s vision and impeccable attention to detail. Burgess Byrd and I managed to always be on opposite sides of the Hall – my compliments to her for bringing palpable warmth and love through her talent.

Top: Kaja Dunn, Lauren Gunderson, Nicole Jescinth Smith, Oneika Philips, Burgess Byrd Right: Lauren and Nicole Bottom Left: DJ MissH.E.R. Bottom Center: the Great Halls Bottom Right: Sabrina Lynn Sawyer and Tiffany Henkel PC: Henkel

I want to thank The Folger Press Secretary, Colleen Kennedy, for her generosity for allowing me to participate in this momentous event.  I hope that this Blog will pique your interest to see this play. You will be glad that you did.

This delightful production plays until April 6 at the beautiful Folger Theater in Washington, DC. Tickets are limited. Don’t miss this chance to watch this modern production and see Ophelia in a new light. Click here for tickets

Colleen Kennedy, Right, with Krasi Henkel PC: Henkel

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A Year With William Shakespeare

Reading the Entire Canon in 2020

In January 2020, a friend posted a Facebook link to a Shakespeare project, “Shakespeare 2020,” reading all of the plays, Sonnets, and poems by William Shakespeare in 12 months. I did not think twice, I joined the group. What had I just signed up for??? I own a busy real estate brokerage firm, run a horse farm, I have a husband, 2 dogs, and 5 cats, and my 96-year-young mother had come to live with us just before Christmas 2019. And . . Shakespeare too?

Why NOT? I would give it a try. No cost, no commitment except to myself, and I wanted to see if I was smart enough to work through literature for which I had more than a mild curiosity. One compelling reason was to improve and strengthen my writing.

My good fortune is that I attended an unusual and experimental public high school. There, my luck expanded to be placed in an English class with an incredible teacher, William Teunis. He piqued my interest in literature (especially, Shakespeare) through his enthusiasm and exceptional teaching.  In his class, we read plays – acting out roles; we wrote short stories, essays, parodies, and plays. Shakespeare was attainable and most enjoyable. The more we did, the more I reached. My English experience abruptly ended with his drowning at the end of my sophomore year. Since then, I doubt that I have written a sentence without asking myself, “What will Mr. Teunis say about this?”

“One day when I have time, I will read the plays.” My thought when I purchased this book in 1994

Over the years, my Shakespeare interest was occasionally rekindled whenever I found a book related to the plays. Once, when I was shopping in Costco, I came across the Complete Works of Shakespeare. “This would be a good resource if I ever have the time to sit and read,” I thought, being the eternal optimist. I purchased the book. Other times, also in Costco, I bought, Shakespeare’s Kings, in hopes of one day learning something about the histories (because I glazed over in my British History course in college); another time, I discovered and bought the 3-CD set of the Sonnets which I played in my car for months. So…when the Project appeared, I was armed and dangerous.

So began the adventure of 162 days

My journey began on January 9, 2020 with Twelfth Night. Yikes! The print in my book was microscopic! I focused my eyes and found that the words readable. Somewhere in Act 2, I remembered my English teacher’s remarks that Shakespeare wrote plays which were performed to audiences. He wrote for theater and not for fireside reading. How was I going to do ALL that reading when the plays must be experienced? I discovered Librivox!

On Librivox, talented and generous people joined forces from around the world to read almost all of the plays. YES! I was thrilled by my discovery. Aside from my relentlessly working and riding horses, I am passionate about walking my dogs for miles (we walk a 15 minute mile most days for 2-5 miles). I took Librivox on our walks.

I listened to Hamlet at the magical arboretum where trees took on the personae of the ghost, Gertrude, Hamlet, Laertes, Polonius, Claudius, and a stick in the pond resembled Ophelia. When I was annoyed that Great Falls Park had been closed, we hailed elsewhere where Macbeth was the perfect answer for my dark mood. The early spring blossoms in our sweet town’s yards were a nice backdrop for Measure For Measure. We heard acts of plays in my car or truck en route to our destinations. I have a favorite gas station where I buy inexpensive diesel for my truck. I love that my broadcasts are not interrupted when I turned off the ignition to fuel. I recall something about a “pie” from Titus Andronicus while the diesel flowed into the tank of my bright blue Silverado.

The Shakespeare 2020 project was brilliantly developed to be completed in 12 months. Well, being very curious, and having determined that I would complete the entire canon before Mr. Teunis’ 50th anniversary of his drowning (so that I could write a tribute article about him) I accelerated my reading/listening and behold, I finished the canon. There were times in King Lear and the Rape of Lucrece that the thought of closing the book and deleting the Librivox link were very compelling. HOW can a decent person know about such stuff and write about it, and worse, WHO would want to be entertained by THAT???? I decided not to judge by my values and carried on.

Opportunities to discuss Shakespeare arise in unexpected places

The Project was not just a syllabus, it was a treasure trove of intelligent, knowledgeable, and creative people who already knew a great deal. They shared their insights and enthusiasm with the 4,900 members of the group the Facebook page . The depth of resources, intellect, and understanding was staggering.  My Shakespeare “library” grew along with my curiosity and understanding.

During my haydays in Mr. Teunis’ class, I heard him tell us that theater, during the Elizabethan era, competed for audiences from among other public interests including bear baiting and public hangings. “Uh-hu, OK, whatever,” I thought, at the time. Now it came to back to me why certain plays were so grotesque. The poor playwright had to capture audiences’ attention and be competitive. Therefore, Titus Andronicus, Lear, Rape of Lucrece, among others.

My friends with whom I shared my Shakespeare adventure looked at me sideways most of the time. One friend, much older than I, said to me, “He should have died earlier. There would be fewer plays with which to torture students.” It seems that he is not alone in that opinion and that most people’s literary experiences were not as positive as mine. My friends were surprised that I cared about Shakespeare, let alone that I would embark on this journey.

My book collection grew

Until this Project, I had danced around the periphery of the Bard. I had done my share of academic study with Mr. Teunis, then, watched fabulous ballets including A Midsummer Night’s Dream with New York City Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet; The Winter’s Tale and Romeo and Juliet with the Royal Ballet and attended Folger Theater performances throughout the years. After completing the canon, I purposed to watch as many plays as possible. I have managed to see about 20 plays, listened to Patrick Stewart reading the Sonnets, and I discovered brilliant lecturers from Harvard, Yale, and the University of Virginia.

The Shakespeare 2020 Project opened a new world of discovery and connections as I never expected. I met (virtually) fascinating people (some of whom I could not find a single point of agreement) who stimulated me to think in different ways. I became acquainted with the creator of the Project, Ian Doescher, a young, creative author who has written many wonderful books in the “Shakespeare style” (do look at his link, you will be amazed by his creativity) on themes including Star Wars, Clueless, Luke Skywalker, and myriad more. My new connections and friendships are treasures. Another bonus is that I connected with high school friends who also valued Mr. Teunis (I should mention that our strange, experimental, free-for-all high school turned out amazing humans who touch the far reaches of the world because of Teunis [and others like him]).

A Plutarch Quote: “
The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled

As the Project draws to a conclusion, the experience, the discoveries, the friendships, the challenges, and the curiosity have helped me learn much about myself, given me discipline to persevere, and hopefully helped me write a little better (all the while hearing Mr. Teunis’ remarks, lectures, and gentle admonitions to do “better”).

By writing this article, I experienced the vastness that is Shakespeare. Questions continually arise. My opinions have no bounds. Stay tuned for future supplements to my “Shakespeare Adventure.” The learning is just beginning.