Shakespeare drama comes to SE

By Dylan Leverett/ reporter

SE Campus will soon ponder the often-quoted phrase “To be or not to be?” as it begins its production of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Director Megan Haratine said the traditional telling of the play will consist of a 29-person cast and crew.

Instructor Richie Haratine rehearses a scene with Kaitlin McGehee for the SE Campus production of Hamlet Oct. 20-24. Christina Feyistan/The Collegian
Instructor Richie Haratine rehearses a scene with Kaitlin McGehee for the SE Campus production of Hamlet Oct. 20-24.
Christina Feyistan/The Collegian

The classic tragedy is the tale of troubled Prince Hamlet who tries to seek revenge against his Uncle Claudius who has murdered Hamlet’s father, widowed his mother and stolen the Danish throne.

Some students may not realize how influential the play is and that its lines are ingrained throughout popular culture, Haratine said.

Haratine said she hopes that a community college interactive production of Hamlet will be something students both unfamiliar and familiar with Shakespeare can enjoy.

“We’ve had cast members who have said they hate Shakespeare because they’ve only read it,” she said, “and to me Shakespeare is meant to be acted out, not read.”

SE student Braden Zeissig plays the titular role of Hamlet, which he received because of a monologue he performed as the character in Haratine’s class previously.

Zeissig says he is impressed by TCC’s production of the play and hopes students will enjoy the opportunity to experience it.

“We are a community college, and the size of this play is so big and the scope so broad, and this is a production most high schools and community colleges can’t do,” he said.

Zeissig and production manager Corina Sosa both agree on one thing that perhaps sets their production apart from others, which is interaction.

“It makes it more of a personal experience,” Zeissig said.

Haratine said she intentionally created the production to be interactive.

“We’re engaging the audience because sometimes when people watch Shakespeare, it can feel distant because of the language,” she said.

Haratine also said Hamlet deals with things students may struggle with.

“Hamlet is a college student who has a dysfunctional family, and he experiences all this adversity with these relationships, death, suicide, self-doubt, the [wondering] purpose of life,” she said. “All these themes and elements are relatable to college students.”

Performances are free to all TCC students, faculty and staff. Tickets are $3 for other students and seniors and $6 for the general public.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20-24 with a 1:30 p.m. matinee Oct. 22 in the Roberson Theatre. Call 817-515-3599 for more information or to make reservations.