Mahoning Valley Players to stage ‘Hamlet’ in park

August 6, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

By GUY D’ASTOLFO

YOUNGSTOWN

For its annual Shakespeare in the Park production, the Mahoning Valley Players will present “Hamlet” at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Morley Pavilion, in the Wick Recreation Area of Mill Creek Park.

Admission is free. The entrance is on McCollum Road, at Belle Vista Avenue, on the West Side. Rain dates are Aug. 14 and 15.

Amy Anne Kibler is directing the production, which uses an abridged script approaches two hours in length, with an intermission.

The cast includes Jeremiah Kibler as Hamlet, Cheney Morgan, Donny Wolford, Eric Kibler, Anna Sturgeon, Terry Shears, Natalie Martzial, Frank Martin, Craig Snay, Dave Wolford, Katrina Bachman, Elsie Kibler, Monica Beasley Martin, Mary James, John Tomko, Mary James Boldish and Gabby Augustine.

Kibler has directed Shakespeare many times in her theater career, last helming a production of “Taming of the Shrew” at the Morley in 2013. She has directed “Hamlet” in the past, as well as other works by the Bard at Stage Left Players and in a Virginia Beach, Va., summer stock repertory.

As one of Shakespeare’s tragedies, “Hamlet” isn’t typical fare for an outdoor production on a summer night, a fact that Kibler acknowledges.

“I think it’s important when directing Shakespeare’s tragedies to find the humor in it,” she said. “We look at the characters as people with warm, loving relationships, and not just tragic characters. They have fun with each other, and it brings the characters to life in a different way.

“There is quite a bit of humor Shakespeare’s tragedies,” Kibler continued. “It makes the tragedy more meaningful, and not just a big downer.”

Kibler said she will present “Hamlet” in its traditional setting, and will make no attempt to change the era or setting.

The production is a family affair for Kibler. Her husband, Eric, and children Jeremiah and Elsie are in the cast.

Eric is a theater veteran in the Mahoning Valley, while Jeremiah, 20, and playing the title role, is also an experienced actor with a special knowledge of Shakespeare that he gleaned from his mother.

Jeremiah also had a role in a recent production of “As You Like It.”

Kibler’s daugher Elsie is a newcomer to the theater, she said.