Review by Christine Sarkes

Bernhardt/Hamlet at The Crane Theater through October 14 is an exceptionally well-acted, highly entertaining theater-lovers play. As the title suggests, it centers on a point in time in the fascinating true life of French actress Sarah Bernhardt, who is coming to terms with her future career as an aging actress at a time when challenging leading roles for women were mostly limited to dying heroines or femme fatales. Bernhardt was famous for living life and building a career on her terms, but not without costs. Written by Theresa Rebeck, the play explores in depth those costs as she navigates the production and interpretation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet with her cast and creative team, while dealing with the fallout of an affair with a famous married playwright. Even with such a heady premise, the play excels at remaining accessible and funny, focusing on the close-knit relationships among Bernhardt’s creative tribe of lovers, artists, friends and family.

Theatre Pro Rata’s press release sums it up perfectly: “It’s 1899 in Paris, and Sarah Bernhardt is a critically acclaimed actress with a daring spirit. She’s triumphed in multiple theatrical roles, and the critics adore her.  When she takes on Shakespeare’s Hamlet as Hamlet, she grapples with the text written for this character as she goes through her creative process. She struggles against societal norms of the day as she determinedly persists in creating her own version of Hamlet played by a woman. This is a story of fierce persistence in the face of resistance to progress.”

The cast features Nicole Goeden as Sarah Bernhardt, Sean Dillon as Constant Coquelin, Em Rosenberg as Edmond Rostand, Derek “Duck” Washington as Alphonse Mucha, Ben Qualley as Maurice/Ensemble, Jeremy Williams as Louis/Ensemble, Ankita Ashrit as Rosamond/Ensemble, Clara Marsh as Lysette, Claire Chenoweth as Raoul, and Christy Johnson as François. Goeden portrays Bernhardt with a luminous fierceness and vulnerability. Rosenberg’s Rostand is romantic and hapless as Bernhardt’s love interest. Dillon as Coquelin is the voice of reason and experience. His Hamlet soliloquys are powerfully delivered. Chenoweth and Johnson provide notable comic relief. Washington is endearing as the famous art deco graphic artist and Bernhardt admirer. I also loved the lush and spare set decoration. In a city crowded with superb theater companies, Theatre Pro Rata’s new production stood out as offering an exceptional evening’s theater experience at a very affordable price of admission.

Bernhardt/Hamlet written by Theresa Rebeck through October 14 at The Crane Theater, 2303 Kennedy Street NE, Minneapolis. Directed by Carin Bratlie Wethern, with stage management by Clara Costello, scenic design by Sadie Ward, lighting design by Emmet Kowler, sound design by Jake Davis, costume design by Raphael Ferreira, props design by Jenny Moeller, fight choreography and intimacy coaching by Annie Enneking, Dramaturgy by Nissa Nordland Morgan, and Assistant Set Design by Sarah Schniepp. Tickets for all Theatre Pro Rata productions are $16 – $61 (sliding scale) and must be purchased in advance: theatreprorata.org/box-office. Pay What You Can (min. $5) on Mondays, October 2 and 9 at 7:30 p.m. Directions, parking, and public transportation options information: http://www.cranetheater.com/venue/location. Masks Required for audiences attending Sunday performance (Note: masks are optional at all other performances unless the CDC and/or MN Department of Health issue new recommendations or guidelines, in accordance with the Theatre Pro Rata COVID-19 Action Plan)