ISHPEMING TOWNSHIP -- Westwood High School in Ishpeming has put a modern spin on the classic tale of Hamlet.
The 22 cast and crew have been working on the production since the fall, when they were introduced to the Shakespeare material in their English class.
"Over the years what I've found is when other things in literature don't work with kids, Shakespeare still does,” explained BG Bradley, director of Hamlet. “Because the stories are so compelling, and the action is so vibrant that it’s just irresistible."
Westwood's rendition sticks pretty close to the original tragedy, following Hamlet's journey. But there are a few twists, including the non-specific time period, and even blending of character's genders.
"I play a girl instead of a boy in this show, and the twist we added is that as Hamlet's best friend, I've actually been in love with him our entire lives," said Symantha Misale, a senior.
Producing a modern Shakespeare piece and learning the Elizabethan language was not the easiest task for these students.
"It's kind of hard to do in terms of lighting and production value, but you can make what you are doing very good," said Tony Carlson, technical director and senior at Westwood.
"Learning the language is obviously a really big challenge and learning to relate to problems hundreds of years ago," Misale said.
Despite the obstacles, the cast and crew prove that no matter how intricate and complex the show's material, hard work and passion pays off.
"For high school students, it's a real challenge, but these kids have been up to it and just have done a really good job," Bradley remarked.
Hamlet premieres Wednesday at Westwood High School, with a following performance Wednesday, December 21.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWLUC