Photos by Jan Cartwright. Krista Schafer as Sarah Bernhardt,
David Galido as Edmond Rostand.
Trenton’s Open Book Theatre Company presents Theresa Rebeck’s comedy “Bernhardt/Hamlet,” which follows legendary actress Sarah Bernhardt’s determination to play Shakespeare’s Hamlet in the late 19th century, when a woman playing a male role was a shocking decision, challenging societal norms and theatrical conventions.
Directed by Shelby Seeley, the cast includes Krista Schafer as Sarah Bernhardt, David Galido as Edmond, Lindel Salow as Constant, Kevin Keller as Maurice and Francois, Tim Pollack as Raoul, Kamryn Marck as Lysette and Rosamond, Foster Johns as Louis, and Henry Ballesteros as Alphonse.
Seeley said the show is a “fun, fresh, fierce and feminine dive into Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet.”
“It asks questions about gender, theatre, and how one story is told over centuries as the world does and does not change around it,” she said. “It also asks how women like Sarah Bernhardt dare to do the impossible, even when the knives are poised against them, and end up making history in the doing.”
Seeley said there is still a culture of pushback today when women attempt to take on traditionally male roles in both life and art, with even the theatre industry remaining male-dominated.
“Media backlash against women stepping into iconic male roles, like Ghostbusters or Agent 007, shows that Sarah Bernhardt’s battle is far from over,” she said. “Her story is a reminder of how revolutionary it is for women to break boundaries and reframe the narrative.”
Seeley said she hopes audiences take away a sense of Bernhardt’s struggle and triumph.
“It is not often we get to peek behind the curtain while history is being made, and all the doubt and fear and imposter syndrome that goes hand in hand with it,” she said. “We just see that Sarah Bernhardt succeeded in the impossible because of her indomitable spirit.”
Seeley said the show provides a reminder that progress isn’t easy or comfortable.
“I hope audiences enjoy the beautiful language in the play, and the larger-than-life characters,” she said. “I also hope audiences will laugh and leave with questions about theatre, gender and what it means for a woman to take on a traditionally male role.”
Schafer said Bernhard has been a fascinating role to play.
“Capturing that big and bold personality at time of her life when she was playing Hamlet, the most melancholy of men, and the doubts and troubles and worries that accompanied that is a wild ride, balancing the ego with the doubt, the desire to be seen and known with the urge to hide, and the need for love and connection with a fierce independence.”
Schafer, who serves as Open Book’s artistic director, said she is drawn to stories about women who have fought for their place at a mostly or exclusively male table.
“I also love stories about people who are passionate about what they do, whether that be art or theatre or mathematics,” she said. “I love seeing people do big, impossible things. It’s so inspiring.”
Galido, who said the show is “funny, sexy and thought-provoking,” said the production provides audiences with a glimpse of the creative process and struggles artist go through to reach their goals.
“We talked during rehearsals about Sarah Bernhardt being one of the most famous people on the planet and the power that allowed her, and yet because she was a woman, that power was limited and questioned, just as it has been for female celebrities of that stature throughout history to the very day, from Sarah Bernhardt to Mary Pickford to Bette Davis to Marilyn Monroe to Madonna to Beyonce to Taylor Swift,” he said.
Galido said the show also addresses the issue of how far a production should alter a script before it is no longer the same play.
“Every production of a particular play will be different, but can the author’s original intent be dismissed to serve the desires of the current production? Should it?” he said.
Johns said the show is an engaging behind-the-scenes look at figures from history.
“This show is so important now because the ageism and sexism in the entertainment industry for female-identifying artists are still so rampant,” he said. “What’s fun about the show is that juxtaposition of classical text and contemporary story telling.”
Showtimes are 8 p.m. Jan. 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 30 and 31 and Feb. 1, with 2 p.m. Jan. 12, 19 and 26 and Feb. 2 matinees.
Tickets are $37 opening night, with all other performances $32 for general admission, $27 for seniors and $17 for students. To order and for more information, go to openbooktheatrecompany.net.
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