By: Rachael Brink
When I first read the name of the play on which I’d be working, I lost interest halfway through. I promised myself I would go into meeting the cast and crew with an open-mind. On the day that Gary Busey’s One-Man Hamlet as performed by David Carl had their tech run, I met the cast and crew. The cast consisted solely of David Carl, and the crew was the director Michole Biancosino. The show does have many producers, who I am slowly meeting; however, the producers are not very involved in the day-to-day workings of the play.
When I first read the name of the play on which I’d be working, I lost interest halfway through. I promised myself I would go into meeting the cast and crew with an open-mind. On the day that Gary Busey’s One-Man Hamlet as performed by David Carl had their tech run, I met the cast and crew. The cast consisted solely of David Carl, and the crew was the director Michole Biancosino. The show does have many producers, who I am slowly meeting; however, the producers are not very involved in the day-to-day workings of the play.
On the preview day for the show, I arrived early to help Michole and David set up their props. They have 15 minutes to set up and later break down the set. Luckily enough, there are very few props for a one-man show. As David and I moved props from a downstairs room through the musty tunnels in the Underbelly venue, Michole set up the lighting and sound instruments. We were able to get everything set up in time for the audience to come in.
As the queue began to enter the theater, I handed out pamphlets about the company and directed the people toward the front row. Unfortunately, there was a low turn out. The theater in which the play is performed holds almost 150 people. We have consistently seen only about 25 people turn up for the show. My goal while working with this company is to get more and more people to see the show every night. After all, it is a very funny show.
David Carl acts as Gary Busey performing Hamlet. The show involves puppets with Gary Busey’s face made of cardboard which are stabbed in the back with forks so that they stand, and a projector which allows David to interact with himself in a vivid fight scene. The amazing part of each show is the changes David makes on the fly according to what the audience finds funny. Therefore, every show is a uniquely comedic representation of Hamlet.
As the queue began to enter the theater, I handed out pamphlets about the company and directed the people toward the front row. Unfortunately, there was a low turn out. The theater in which the play is performed holds almost 150 people. We have consistently seen only about 25 people turn up for the show. My goal while working with this company is to get more and more people to see the show every night. After all, it is a very funny show.
David Carl acts as Gary Busey performing Hamlet. The show involves puppets with Gary Busey’s face made of cardboard which are stabbed in the back with forks so that they stand, and a projector which allows David to interact with himself in a vivid fight scene. The amazing part of each show is the changes David makes on the fly according to what the audience finds funny. Therefore, every show is a uniquely comedic representation of Hamlet.