Playwright: Ryan Walters and the ensemble. At: Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland. Phone: 773-275-5255; $10-$15. Runs through Sept. 25
Daredevils' Hamlet hilariously shows the Neo-Futurists in tip-top form of blending meta-theatrical insights, personal introspection and amazing physical feats to pick apart a Shakespearean classic. Anyone who loves the Neo-Futurists' usual brand of delightful deconstruction will have a ball with this manly exploration of the difficulties ( and oddities ) of Shakespeare's play about the melancholy Dane.
But as a critic writing for a LGBTQ publication, I must also add an extra recommendation to alert certain gay Chicagoans to go see Daredevils' Hamlet ( particularly those who frequent the bars Touché or Cellblock ) .
Although the original Daredevils show developed in 2005 as a way to explore why men do risky and stupid stunts, this Hamlet sequel also carries a very discernable homoerotic tone about it. Plus, lovers of certain fetishes will be in heaven.
First, there's a basic uniform of the Daredevils: an array of masculine work coveralls that frequently get peeled back to display a row of hairy chests ( and sometimes more ) belonging to cast members Brennan Buhl, Anthony Courser, John Pierson, Jay Torrence and Ryan Walters.
Then there are a couple of symbolic physical stunts to reflect the psychological state of charactersnamely, the suicidal Ophelia. There's a breath-control segment with the cast dunking their heads into water basins, while Pierson impressively gets fully submerged.
Then there's a stunt to show how Ophelia loses all sense of herself following her father's murder. Though his symbolic reasoning didn't fully make sense, Pierson has agreed to have a different part of his body shaved live on stage by his cohorts throughout the show's run. ( Pierson's neck was shaved on opening night, so it's any wonder when they'll get around to his privates ) .
Another aspect of Hamlet that gets a thorough exploration is the idea that Hamlet's friend, Horatio, is likely gay. Torrence makes a couple of eloquent speeches, both personal and script-derived, that rhapsodize on the bonds of masculine brotherhood and how they can cross over and foster to a fuller love between men.
Director Halena Kays keeps the action fleet and funny, particularly with great contributions from Courser ( who prefers a hero like Robin Hood ) and the goofily cute Buhl ( who offers up personally funny bits inspired by Hamlet's insecurities in acting on his instincts ) .
As the show's creator and de facto Hamlet, Ryan Walters amusingly ( and physically ) captures why any ambitious actor is cowed by taking on the monumental role of Hamlet ( particularly as he delivers the famed "To be or not to be" speech on a rotating steel framed box ) .
Daredevils' Hamlet definitely fits the bill for fun, physical and introspective humor. And if you're a gay male with particular predilections, you'll be in for quite a treat.