Hamlet

The Gangbusters Theatre Company is back in Burbank for the second show of their seventh season. Departing from their usual practice of presenting 20th Century classics “with their original speed and violence,” the Gangbusters are delving into Shakespeare’s most famous play. The director, who is new to the company, is maintaining a respectful faithfulness to the Bard’s text, while taking a startling approach to the material.

Director D.D. Thomas elaborates, “The classic story of William Shakespeare’s revenge tragedy, Hamlet, opens in a mental institution and quickly ventures into the head of our beloved title character.

“Upon returning to Denmark for his father’s [the king of Denmark’s] funeral, Hamlet discovers that his mother has married with his uncle. [Hamlet] quickly discovers that his father’s spirit is not at rest, and that his uncle may have had a hand in the death of the king.

“Now [Hamlet] must go to work fleshing out who is truly his friend and who is conspiring against him. And he must also fight with himself on committing the act of revenge.”