Olney Theatre Presents BEDLAM’s Saint Joan and Hamlet

Olney Theatre presents Bedlam Theatre’s rotating repertory of Saint Joan and Hamlet from now through October 20 in the Mulitz-Gudelsky Lab at 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road in Olney.

Shakespeare’s Hamlet tells the story of Prince Hamlet as he returns home to Denmark to attend his father’s funeral. When Hamlet arrives he’s shocked to find his mother already remarried — to his father’s brother, Claudius, who has crowned himself King despite the fact that Hamlet is heir to the throne. No wonder Hamlet suspects foul play. BEDLAM brings their unique performance style to Shakespeare’s greatest play — arguably the greatest play in the English language.

Considered by many to be George Bernard Shaw’s greatest play, Saint Joan opened in 1920, just three years after Joan of Arc was canonized. In this stripped down, boldly theatrical, critically acclaimed production, we meet the Joan of Arc that Shaw believed in: not a saint, a witch, or a madwoman, but a French farm girl who is anything but simple — an illiterate intellectual, a true genius whose focus on the individual rocked the Church and State to their core.

“Bedlam is a fantastic, youthful and seriously smart company dedicated to making the words of the greatest plays in the western canon leap off the page, across the stage and into your hearts and minds,” said Artistic Director Jason Loewith. “There is no set, the actors hardly wear costumes, and the music – when there is any – is played by a hand-held tape recorder. No tricks, no gimmicks: just a gathering space for the audience, four wonderfully skilled actors, and the words.”

Ted Lewis, Andrus Nichols, Tom O’Keefe, and Eric Tucker will all make their Olney Theatre Center debuts with Hamlet and Saint Joan. Director and Co-Artistic Director Eric Tucker not only directs but stars as the lead in Hamlet and takes on multiple roles in Saint Joan. Andrus Nichols (also Co-Artistic Director) showcases her talents as Saint Joan. Tom O’Keefe, a veteran to both productions, takes on Cauchon, Bluebeard and numerous other roles in Saint Joan as well as Claudius, Rosincrantz, Gravedigger and others in Hamlet. Ted Lewis plays Dauphin, De Stogumber, and numerous others in Saint Joan and Horatio, Laertes, and others in Hamlet.

Tickets start at $31 and may be purchased online at Olney Theatre Center or by contacting the Box Office at 301.924.3400.

Box Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 10:00 am – 6 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 12:00 – 5 pm

Hamlet
Written by William Shakespeare
Director Eric Tucker

Saint Joan
Written by George Bernard Shaw
Director Eric Tucker

Recommended for ages 12 and up.

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