Steadstyle Chicago
	October 2009 Theatre Review by Alan Bresloff
	Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead Tom Stoppard is a wordsmith!  His comic masterpiece, "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" now playing at the very intimate Writers' Theatre in Glencoe is a sparkling and witty farce about two of the lesser characters in Shakespeare's greatest drama,"Hamlet".  This was his first play, written over 43 years ago.  The two lesser known characters are summoned by King Claudius to spy on Hamlet and to take him to his death, only to find that it is they who will meet this fate.  If you are into "Hamlet" (or not), this is a zany look at these characters who are so "forgettable" no one really knows which is which.  In fact, in this madcap story, neither do they. The title roles are skillfully played by Sean Fortunato (Rosencrantz, or is he?) and Timothy Edward Kane (Guildenstern?), two actors who can do almost anything in any theater: drama, musical or comedy.  They are brilliant!  Director Michael Halberstam has chosen wisely in these two actors to play these difficult roles.  There are times you feel that you are watching Abbott and Costello or perhaps Laurel and Hardy, and Stoppard's lines, tongue twisters and insanity are delivered perfectly.  They never miss a beat and the looks on their faces at the situations that arise are priceless.  Just watching them is worth the price of admission. The set by Collette Pollard is a stage that allows us to be backstage (or are we?) that converts to a boat with some very clever pieces.  Keith Parham's lighting, Rachel Anne Healey's costumes and Andy Hansen's  sound and music are the crowning touches to a production that one might call perfection.  The story is inane, but isn't that what farce is all about?  The actors in the play are also joined by a troupe of other actors led by "The Player" (a genius performance by Allen Gilmore).  There is some scene-stealing by young Joey Steakly as Alfred.  Add to this cast Jeff Trainor, Karen Janes Woditsch, Frederick Stone, Gregory Isaac, John Hoogenakker as Hamlet, Terry Hamilton, Dane Halvorson, Brandon Ford and Laura Coover and you have the perfect ingredients to make this show complete.  Each actor has a role to play, and large or small, each role is played as Stoppard wrote it, the right comic touch at the right time.  In comedy, timing is a key and Halberstam makes it all happen. The journey that we take over three acts (2 hours and fifteen minutes including two intermissions) is a sheer delight as we see "Hamlet" from a new perspective.  You will find yourself laughing from the opening scene that is all about probability to the very end.  There are many great lines in reference to actors.  "The Player" delivers these with a flourish.  And even if you hate Shakespeare, you will find the humor in Stoppard's delightful script.  There are some references about "these times" in the script, and let's face it, during "these times" we need an escape, a few hours away from all that life has placed before us.  So why not laugh and leave your troubles outside?  This is indeed the perfect way to accomplish this.  Writers, located at 325 Tudor Court in Glencoe is a small, intimate theater where there are no bad seats, but there are not a lot of seats, so I would suggest that you order your tickets as soon as possible.  This is not one to be missed.  "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern" will continue through December 6, 2009.  Performances are Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m. (not on Turkey day), Saturday at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.  No 6 p.m. on 11/15 or 12/6.  Wednesday matinees at 2 p.m. 11/11 and 11/25 only.  Tickets range from $40-$65 and can be purchased by calling 847-242-6000, visiting the box office located at 376 Park Avenue in Glencoe or online at www.writerstheatre.org.  Notes: There is plenty of free parking in the area as well as restaurants in the quaint downtown section.  On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday a new program "What to Know Before The Show" will give you 30 minutes of discussion before you see the production preparing those who are unfamiliar with "Hamlet".  Discount tickets: each day Tweet Seats will offer discounted tickets by going to www.Twitter.com/WritersTheatre by 3 p.m., where you will get a special code and then go online to purchase.  This is only online and of course subject to availability.   About Alan Bresloff Alan Bresloff, once an actor himself, has been covering the Chicago Theater Scene since 1993, first as the Theater and Arts critic for LaRaza newspaper, then with Salsachicago.com and then onto Extra Newspaper and The Epoch Times.  He also writes for ElImparcial and TeleGuia.  His reviews can also be seen on www.theatreinchicago.com.  Alan does not call himself a "critic" but a "reviewer" as he tries to educate the reader about theater itself, what is a good value, what to look for in a play or musical and more.  "Exposure to theater is a very important part of a young person's life" he says. "Learning about the arts and culture is in fact learning about life" and he tries to explain more in his reviews than just if it is good or bad.  Even some of the poor productions have some value, he often says and he would love your feedback on shows that you have seen.  You can write him here or at albresloff@sbcglobal.net.