Hamlet
Chicago Shakespeare Theater - Feb 14, 2026
Directed by Edward Hall
Starring Jaylon Muchison as Hamlet
About the Play
Hamlet is regarded as one of Shakespeare’s greatest plays. Written between 1599 and 1601, it features the most famous question ever posed: “To be or not to be…” The story centers on Hamlet, whose uncle, Claudius, murders his father and usurps the throne. The play explores complex themes including death, revenge, madness, and morality.
One of the Best Productions of Hamlet I’ve Seen
As I entered the theater to find my seat, I noticed an actor dressed as a ghost drifting through the aisles. At first, I thought this actor was the ghost of Hamlet’s Father, but I soon realized there were several more actors dressed as ghosts wandering around the theater. These ghosts, who also lingered around the stage throughout the play, created a haunted world and reinforced that "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark." (-Spoken by Marcellus,a castle guard, in Act 1, Scene 4).
This production of Hamlet was set in a modern-day world. The stage was designed to look like dark and grimy NYC streets (photo below). The director also chose to portray Hamlet’s family as part of the mafia, with their wealth from drug trafficking. The set had blocks of drugs stacked in the background, and the characters used drugs with money when giving gifts and making payoffs. Setting this production of Hamlet in a criminal underworld helped clarify the story and provided reasoning behind all the violence, senseless murders, and tragic deaths.
The contemporary costumes supported this world, too. Claudius (Hamlet’s Uncle) wore a mafia-style suit with gold chains around his neck, while Gertrude (Hamlet's Mother) wore tight, sexy dresses, heels, and furs. Hamlet was in street clothes: black sweats, a hoodie, a skull cap, and Beats headphones (photo below). Ophelia dressed like a punk teenager--plaid miniskirt, fishnets, and platform Doc Martins.
Standout Performances
Jaylon Muchison’s portrayal of Hamlet was exceptional. I felt his deep grief and fury over his Father's murder. He delivered famous lines like “To be or not to be” with authenticity. I could really feel his grief, pain, and uncertainty as he questioned everything in his life and reason for living.
Scott Aiello who played Claudius (Hamlet’s Uncle, who murdered Hamlet’s Father and took his throne) was also one of the strongest I’ve seen. He was very believable as a corrupt and manipulative mob boss who coldly murdered and manipulated his way to the throne. In his prayer scene (Act 3, Scene 3), he showed the depth and complexity of Claudius’ life choices. While he felt a twinge of guilt for murdering his brother, in his world, it was a necessary evil.
The ghost of Hamlet’s Father was terrifyingly good—one of the best portrayals I’ve seen. They made the ghost tall, with a long black robe, a full black mask that hid his face, and elongated, bony fingers in black gloves (photo below). The ghost's lines were so loud they boomed throughout the theater. Later in the play, when Hamlet is arguing with his Mother in the Chamber scene (Act 3, Scene 4), the ghost returns and stands just inches away from Hamlet’s face, bellowing his commands. Terrifying.
The actress playing Gertrude (Hamlet's Mother) delivered a strong performance. From the time she entered the stage, you could see why Hamlet was so enraged with her. She's drinking champagne, hanging on Claudius (Hamlet’s Uncle), swept up in their new marriage and oblivious to Hamlet’s deep grief. My only critique of her performance was in the Chamber scene, where I wished she’d shown more emotional contrast. Her hysteria over Hamlet’s behavior and accidental murder of Polonius (Claudius’ advisor) was believable, but there were moments I felt she could have shown more compassion for her son Hamlet, who was pouring out his grief to her.
The actress playing Ophelia (Hamlet’s love interest and Polonius’ daughter) showed how emotionally fragile we can be when we're young, riding the highs of love and the lows of loss. However, I thought she missed some chances to show a wider range of emotions, too.
The actor who played Polonius (Claudius’ advisor) chose to portray him as a drunk, a choice I hadn’t seen before but was very believable, especially with rambling lines like "To thine own self be true" (Act 4, Scene 3). The same actor also played the Gravedigger. I didn't realize it until after the play--that's great acting!
A Powerful Moment
During Claudius's prayer scene (Act 3, Scene 3), Hamlet sees Claudius kneeling in the chapel, praying for forgiveness after having murdered Hamlet’s Father and usurped the throne. Hamlet pulls out his gun and points it at Claudius's head, then turns to the audience to say his next line, “And now I’ll do it?”
Usually, Hamlet says the line as if thinking aloud. But Jaylon Muchison brilliantly engaged the audience here, asking us for the answer. Some audience members shouted “Yes!” while others yelled "No!" Hamlet looked around at all of us, desperate for the "right" answer. I'd never seen this choice before, and it was very powerful. You could feel his conflictedness and the emotional complexity of the moment.
A Clever (But Less Serious) Ending
The final act of the play (when Hamlet and Laertes duel to the death) was staged as a video game. Hamlet and Laertes held game controllers while two actors each played the video game fencers. While this staging was clever, I wondered if, by gamifying the duel, the violence seemed less real.
During the talk-back after the show (when the actors answer audience questions), the fight choreographer explained this staging choice— to make the play more relatable to high school students who come to see it during the week. I see why a director would make this choice, but I wondered whether it takes away from the play's serious and tragic ending.
Final Thoughts
Overall, a really well-done Hamlet. So many things I'd never seen that really worked. The standout performances by Hamlet and Claudius made it one of the best productions I’ve seen.
