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Regional Reviews: Washington, D.C. A Room in the Castle
Gunderson has written A Room in the Castle in contemporary vernacular, although the 80-minute play incorporates snippets of Shakespeare's words when necessary to set the scene. In addition to spirited, teenage Ophelia (Sabrina Lynne Sawyer) and poised, elegant Gertrude (Oneika Phillips), the cast includes Anna (Burgess Byrd), a servant woman and Ophelia's confidante, and director Kaja Dunn has worked with the performers to create three very different women. As embodied by Sawyer, Ophelia is an intelligent young woman, a poet and musician (she plays her original songs on the guitar), and a friend of Prince Hamlet since they were children together at the Danish court. She has always known she was expected to marry the prince, but his current emotional upheaval, to the point of abuse, makes her less sure of whether that's the right step to take. Meanwhile, Gertrude is regal and fastidious in her jewels and gowns (designed with elegant detail by Nicole Jescinth Smith) but fully capable of getting down and laughing with Ophelia and the earthy Anna. While, as the queen states, a woman's role at court is to "obey, agree, and assist," that doesn't mean she can't take action when the men aren't paying attention–especially if the action is related to the men's behavior. (She explains that she didn't marry her dead husband's brother for love or lust, but for self-preservation.) The new character, Anna, is fun because, as a servant, she never has been expected to follow court manners. If Anna believes Ophelia has been misused, she would have no problem striking back at her tormentors, even if they are men and members of the royal court. Scenic designer Samantha Reno has created a clever two-story set on the narrow but tall Folger stage. The main setting is Ophelia's room in the castle, with Gertrude's private room above it and upstage. Max Doolittle's lighting design picks up the shifting moods and keeps the action flowing. A Room in the Castle runs through April 6, 2025, in the Elizabethan Theatre at the Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SE, Washington, DC. For ticket information, call 202-544-7077 or visit. By Lauren M. Gunderson Cast: |
