MRP brings comedy to stage to close season
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Mouse River Players Community Theatre is mounting its final performances of its 51st season with a local favorite comedy, "I Hate Hamlet" by Paul Rudnick.
It's the swinging 1980s, and it looks as if Andrew Rally has it all: Good looks, popularity, star of a hit TV series, a loving, adorable girlfriend, a New York Brownstone apartment once the residence of a famed actor, and the opportunity to play the world's most famous role - Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.
But there's something rotten in the state of Andrew's life. His Hollywood friend, Gary, is pressuring him to return to L.A. to star in another cookie-cutter TV teen drama. His chain-smoking manager, Lillian, who has a secret all her own, has set him up with his no-pay, nonprofit Shakespeare in the Park appearance, and his long-time live-in girlfriend, Deirdre, is a hopeless romantic who won't have sex with him until "everything is perfect."
He has moved to New York City to validate his talent with an honest-to-goodness acting role in a desperate attempt to prove he's more than just a pretty face on a cereal box. Unfortunately, there is one major obstacle to overcome: he hates Hamlet.
But then the ghost of Shakespearian actor John Barrymore appears to Andrew to coach the young despondent actor toward his destiny. The laughs are non-stop as Andrew wrestles with his doubting conscience, a larger-than-life Barrymore phantom, his sword and the fact that he is a failure as Hamlet.
David Becker, new to Minot, the Air Force base and Mouse River Players, makes his local acting debut in the lead role of Andrew Rally. Becker has been active with the theater for most of his life, with roles such as Motel the Tailor in "Fiddler on the Roof" and Buddy in "Elf: The Musical."
He is backed up by a cadre of MRP regulars who have graced the stage in this year's "Bone Chiller," featuring Dorian Garland, Edward Montez and Justin Anderson, and "Little Women," featuring Katie Waid. Cast members Ashley Nilsen and Heather Speer also were directors for MRP last year.
"I Hate Hamlet" is directed by Brittany Montez, a regular volunteer at MRP as an actor, director and designer. She is aided by Assistant Director Triniti Gregg and Fight Choreographer Edward Montez.
Performances of "I Hate Hamlet" are Friday and Saturday evenings, May 12-13 and 19-20, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees, May 14 and 21, at 2 p.m. Adult tickets are $15. Seniors, military and student tickets are $13, and children younger than 12 are admitted for $10. Some of the performance themes may not be suitable for younger children.
Reservations may be purchased online at
mouseriverplayers.com or at the theater on performance dates. The box office opens one hour before show times.
Mouse River Players also just finalized its tentative 2023-2024 season with a group of selections never before seen on the MRP stage. The planned slate of shows includes a well-known, traditional musical, a heart-warming holiday-themed family drama, a comic thriller, a musical based on a popular series of scary young adult fiction and a quirky comedy taking a different angle on well-known fantasy books about a secret school of magic. Watch for announcements about the season and upcoming open auditions on the theatre's Facebook page.
Mouse River Players, located at 115 1st St. SE in Minot, is a volunteer community theater. Anyone interested in participating or supporting MRP can contact the organization at info@mouseriverplayers.com.