For Valentine’s Day this year we had an extra special date night! Thanks to the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company we were invited 
to the opening night of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. I love opening nights at Cincy Shakes…not only is there always a great sense of excitement in the air about the show that is set to premiere, but they also serve snacks from Bonefish Grill and have complimentary Beer and Wine before the show. It’s always a celebration in the lobby, which only makes you more excited about the show you are about to see. We’ve been waiting to see Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead for a month now, since the moment we walked out of Hamlet.
As soon as we heard that the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company was going to produce the two shows back to back we knew we had to see them. Hamlet was spectacular, and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead was the perfect show to follow on Hamlet’s heels. The title roles are played by Justin McCombs and Billy Chace, but even after just seeing the show I cannot tell you which was which. I don’t even think they knew who was Rosencrantz and who was Guildenstern, which only makes for an even funnier show. Billy and Justin are a RIOT. I’ve seen them in a few shows now, and they just work so well together and are hilarious. After I watch them in shows together I find myself wanting to go grab a beer with them. I’d bet they’d crack us up in person as well. The rest of the Rosencrantz & Guildenstern cast is made up of the exact same actors and actresses in the exact same roles that they performed in Hamlet. The sets were the same, the costumes were the same, the storylines coincided…but this story was boisterous and funny where Hamlet was intense and serious. It puts a whole new spin on Hamlet. Even if you didn’t make it to Hamlet at Cincy Shakes last month, going to see Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead would be a fun night out. It’s a hilarious story performed by a fabulous cast, they will have you laughing out loud throughout the performance.
More Details about Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead:
Tom Stoppard’s comedic tour-de-force “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” turns “Hamlet” on its head, telling the tale from the bewildered perspective of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two minor characters in Shakespeare’s tragedy. As the befuddled duo struggle to keep up with the events around them, they become increasingly aware of the possibility that they might just be fictional characters. The entire cast of Cincinnati Shakespeare’s recent critically acclaimed production of “Hamlet” returns for this delightfully erudite vaudeville production.
Cincinnati Shakespeare’s resident ensemble has the unique ability to pair Shakespeare’s classic masterpiece, “Hamlet” with Tom Stoppard’s contemporary masterpiece “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead”, further enhancing the experience for audience members, especially those who see both productions. “It is one of funniest and smartest comedies of the twentieth century,” says director Jeremy Dubin, “Doing it back to back with “Hamlet” will give audiences a chance to see the other side of the coin- trust me, that’s really funny especially if you know the play.”
The director Jeremy Dubin continues to say, “this is, hands down, my favorite contemporary play. It may well be the smartest comedy ever written- with due reverence to its literary forebear Waiting For Godot. Stoppard’s wit, humor, intelligence, and his loving irreverence towards Shakespeare (which he would go on to indulge in Shakespeare in Love) absolutely shine in this play. Plus, this production features one of my favorite comedy duos: Billy Chace and Justin McCombs. Yep, this one’s going to be a dilly.” Longtime resident company members, Billy Chace and Justin McCombs return to the stage as the title characters. Audiences have already delighted in the hilarious antics of Mr. Chace and Mr. McCombs in the sold-out productions this season of “The 39 Steps” and “Every Christmas Story Every Told” in which both actors were featured
Performance & Ticket Information:
Performances of “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” are scheduled from February 14- March 9 on Thursday, Friday & Saturday evenings at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm. Preview performances are on Wednesday Feb. 12 and Thursday Feb. 13 at 7:30pm and tickets are $20. No performance on Sunday February 16. The theater is located at 719 Race Street, downtown Cincinnati, two blocks west of the Aronoff Center. Single ticket prices range from $22-$31 on Thursdays and Sundays and from $26-$35 on Fridays and Saturdays. If available, $14 student rush tickets may be purchased 30 minutes before a show with a valid student ID. Visa, Discover, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted. Ticketing fees may apply. Discounts are available for students, seniors and groups as well as Enjoy the Arts and AAA members. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the CSC Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273) ext. 1, or go online at www.cincyshakes.com.
The Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is located at 719 Race Street, Cincinnati. You can find important details about tickets, shows,
parking and more on the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company website. And be sure to follow Cincy Shakes on Facebook! Cincy Shakes Photos by Mikki Schaffner
