Smitten With “Wittenberg”

What exactly is “Wittenberg,” you ask? Only the new contemporary, intellectual, and hyper-literate comedy about Prince Hamlet’s college days (before revenge made him mad enough to kill, his diametrically opposed professors simply made him mad with confusion).

This earlier version of Hamlet – the college years, if you will – is also produced by the Seattle Shakespeare Company; in fact, with their Hamlet running October 27 to December 5, 2010 and Wittenberg running November 15 to December 5, 2010, the performances overlap in time – there are even several opportunities to attend both shows on the same day. However, the plays themselves do not overlap in time, although Wittenberg most humorously foreshadows many of the classic lines in Hamlet. (Your Hedonista attended as their media guest on opening night; opening nights during this 20th anniversary year are sponsored by Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes in the form of a post-show catered celebrations.)

Wittenberg – written by David Davalos and directed by Rita Giomi – deals with the struggle over reason versus faith and the belief that one must choose either one or the other. With reason advocated by the truly hedonistic Doctor Faustus (Chad Kelderman) and faith championed by the (mostly) pious Reverend Martin Luther (Michael Patten), young Hamlet  (Connor Toms) is truly caught in the middle as exploration of the themes of passion versus purity, sensuality versus saintliness, and temptation versus temperance take place upon the stage. Then, as typically happens in life, life happens – and theoretical contemplation suddenly appears to become a mere unaffordable luxury.

Overall, a very stimulating play in all meanings of the word … with Dr. Faustus likely a reader of this site. (If he isn’t, he certainly should be!)

Tickets range from $15-$40 for adults and $15-$25 for seniors and students (with discounts available for parties of 10 or more).

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable coverage, of the give venue/meal/performance/product/service.