This two act play involves a very popular TV matinee idol who is currently between gigs and insecure about his acting talents after only being cast in fluff parts.  His aging agent has landed him the part of Hamlet in the free Shakespearean production series in Central Park promising him that if he succeeds in this role he’ll greatly enhance his resume as a great actor. But then again, Andrew knows, that if he flops it could be disastrous to his career.

Besides this dilemma, Andrew would be working for little or no money.  But there’s yet another hitch—Andrew hates Shakespearean works especially “Hamlet”.  But, Andrew’s virginal girlfriend, a total romantic, is now looking at him in a new light.  She’s totally smitten with the idea of Andrew playing Hamlet and Andrew is getting desperate to advance his and Deidre’s (whom he loves dearly) relationship to the next obvious level.  Playing Hamlet could be his salvation in that department.

  Now add to all this Andrew’s recent move into the apartment once owned by the greatest Hamlet of all time (John Barrymore), his real estate agent’s penchant for conjuring up ghosts (in this case that of John Barrymore himself), his theatrical agent Lillian’s push towards anything involving the late “sweet prince” (once her lover) and, a visit by Andrew’s pushy Hollywood friend (Gary) dangling a multi-million dollar contract for a new TV series (another fluff role) which Andrew needs to sign immediately, foregoing the Hamlet gig and moving to the west coast..

  Will Andrew give up a chance to make a guaranteed obscene amount of money just to, hopefully, bed his girlfriend by taking a part he hates and only tentatively thinks he can even succeed doing?  There, in a nutshell, gives you the formula for another great comedy, the vehicle most preferred by SPAO and its audience.

  SPAO is happy to announce that Paul Nooney, a veteran actor of several of SPAO’S great comedies will be rejoining SPAO playing the ghost of  John Barrymore in “I Hate Hamlet”.  As this show’s director, I look forward to once again exploring Nooney’s fine talents and proclivity towards comedy.  Nooney has always been a favorite with SPAO’s faithfuls.

Linda Yurschak

THE CAST

Front: Matt DeMarco, Paul Nooney, Chelsea Morby
Back: Cynthia Petronis, Kathy Schnieble, Mike Wolske