Of Hamlet and Small Planets

Dramatis Personae’s current production is literally out of this world

By Patricia Dumais

Starting on Friday, May 27 and running until Monday, May 30, the Westmount community theatre group Dramatis Personae will present More Things in Heaven and Earth in the Lodge Room of Victoria Hall. The group has departed from its usual formula for their spring performance — instead of presenting one full-length play, they have opted to present two plays — The Fifteen Minute Hamlet and Visit to a Small Planet.

In The Fifteen Minute Hamlet, a 1976 comedic abridgement of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet written by Tom Stoppard, the author has taken the most famous and best-loved lines from Shakespeare’s play and condensed them into a hilarious thirteen-minute version. This miraculous feat is followed by an encore — a two-minute version!

Visit to a Small Planet, originally a television play by Gore Vidal first presented in 1955 and later made into a film starring Jerry Lewis in 1960, tells the story of Kreton, an alien from an unnamed planet who lands on Earth intending to view the American Civil War. He miscalculates and lands instead 100 years later. Having missed the opportunity to see conflict first hand, but delighted with all the new playthings the 20th century has invented for war making, he decides to create a war for himself.

I dropped in on the final dress rehearsal where I had the opportunity to chat with Director Christopher Moore about the production. “We are actually working from the Visit to a Small Planet film script instead of the original television play, as the former is shorter.” I asked him how the decision is taken on which plays to perform. “It’s very much a group decision — we all bring ideas to the table and then choose what feels right and inspires us. We also need to cast nine actors and many plays do not offer that many roles.” The current production will feature the talents of Clive Brewer, Jenepher Chopra, Fanny Dvorkin, Ann Elbourne, Bryan Libero, Malcolm McRae, Henry Nesvadba, Ellen Rubin and Karen Sauder. Roger Joachim will skilfully provide the sound and lighting effects.

This is Christopher’s second collaboration with the group, the first being Quick Exits, a series of six short plays performed last December. Dramatis Personae is very appreciative of the professionalism he brings to the group in his patient and creative direction. A professional theatre producer and director with Persephone Productions, he recently produced Moby Dick and is now working on bringing his own creation, Jerome of Sandy Cove, to the stage next Fall.

Dramatis Personae was founded in 1985 by Ann Page and has been performing regularly ever since. It is a not-for-profit organization funded by membership fees and donations from its audiences. Its players are a diverse group from all walks of life.

For more information about Dramatis Personae visit theatrewestmount.com

Images: Patricia Dumais

More Things in Heaven and Earth runs in the Lodge Room of Victoria Hall, 4626 Sherbrooke W, on the following dates:

Friday, May 27 at 7:30 pm
Saturday. May 28 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, May 29 at 2 pm and 5 pm
Monday, May 30 at 8 pm

Admission: suggested donation $10
Reservations are strongly recommended.
For reservations and information go to theatrewestmount.weebly.com/reservations or call 514 484-2016.