See A 'Shakespearean Halloween' Saturday In Chatham

CHATHAM, NJ - The underworld, war and forbidden love will all come to life as part of 'The Spanish Tragedy' presented by the Hudson Shakespeare Company at 2 p.m. at The Library of the Chathams, located at 214 Main Street.

The Spanish Tragedy is an Elizabethan drama written by Thomas Kyd sometime between 1582 and 1592. Later versions of the play have largely included additional scenes and bits of dialogue which have been attributed to William Shakespeare. It’s plot contains several violent murders and includes, as one of its characters, a personification of the spirit of Revenge. The play was often copied or referred to in other works of the time period.

According to the Hudson Shakespeare Company, many of its elements are apparent in Shakespeare’s other works such as Hamlet and Titus Andronicus. Many of the Spanish Tragedy elements such as a play within a play to trap a murderer, a ghost intent on vengeance, and a man who goes mad after his son is murdered, appear in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Now in its 27th year, Hudson Shakespeare Company said they are no stranger when it comes to performing Shakespeare’s lesser known works. In previous years they have performed a companion piece to Midsummer called Two Noble Kinsmen (2007), Shakespeare’s “lost play” Cardenio (2012), a Jacobean tragicomedy called The Arden of Faversham (2014), and a history play called Edward III (2015). These are plays that have been attributed to the collection of works known as the "Shakespeare Apocrypha."

“These are plays that scholars have attributed some part of the play to Shakespeare’s writing.” said director Noelle Fair. “Shakespeare may or may not have contributed to these plays. There’s no way to know for sure. However, scholars can use computer studies called stylometry to find quirks unique to Shakespeare to make a pretty good determination. In this case, it looks like he contributed a few additional scenes after the first original production.”

Here is the basic plot:

UNDERWORLD

• Don Andrea (Olivia Lodge), a courtier in the Spanish court, died in war and travels to the underworld in order to be judged. In his previous life he secretly loved the Spanish princess, Bel-Imperia (Brett Molik). However, he was killed by the devious Portuguese prince Balthazar (Juan Pablo Mendive) while fighting in the war. He is brought before the judges in the underworld and before his fate can be determined, he must satisfy his need for revenge. Thus, the spirit of Revenge (Anne M. Whitaker) is summoned to satisfy Andrea’s desire.

SPAIN AND PORTUGAL AT WAR

• Spain has won the bitter war between Portugal and Spain. The Portuguese prince Balthazar is taken prisoner by the Spanish prince Lorenzo (Jeffrey Robb) and a young nobleman named Horatio (Evan Brodsky). Both men are rewarded for the capture. However, in order to solidify the peace, Lorenzo hopes to broker a marriage between his sister Bel-Imperia and Balthazar.

A FORBIDDEN LOVE

• However, Bell-Imperia has different ideas. In hearing how her love Don Andrea was brutally slain by Balthazar, she vows to spite the prince by loving Horatio. Lorenzo and Balthazar learn of this new love affair and hatch a plan to kill Horatio. In the middle of the night, the two lovers meet up to steal a moment, but are dangerously encountered by Lorenzo, Balthazar and their servants who murder the unsuspecting Horatio. Bell-Imperia is locked away so she cannot tell anyone who killed Horatio.

WHO CALLS HIERONIMO?

• Hearing the cries of Horatio and Bell-Imperia, Hieronimo (Jon Ciccarelli) is awakened in the middle of the night to find his son murdered in his garden. Along with his wife Isabella they vow to get revenge for his death. Hieronimo later receives a letter from Bell-Imperia which reveals the murderers names. Seeing now that Horatio is dispatched, Lorenzo seeks to solidify the marriage between Bell-Imperia and Balthazar. Hieronimo falls deeper into his grief, madness and desire for revenge. Finally, the Viceroy of Portugal arrives in Spain to solemnize the marriage. Now free from her prison, Bell-Imperia confronts Hieronimo about the letter she sent him. Hieronimo takes this as confirmation of who did the deed, and together, they vow to work together to get revenge for Horatio’s death. Lorenzo returns to ask Hieronimo’s assistance in putting on a play to serve as entertainment for the wedding day between Balthazar and Bell-Imperia. Hieronimo describes the play “Soliman and Perseda” to the nobles and they all agree to take part. Little do they know that this is the event within which Hieronimo and Bell-Imperia plan to get revenge on the two princes.

According to Fair the show is perfect for the Halloween season.

"You’ll have to come see the actual play in order to find out who survives and who dies," Fair said. "We guarantee, you won’t believe the body count in this show."

Fair said the group performs these lesser known works because they are fun.

"They're actually really good plays that we feel audiences should know about. They are just as much fun as Shakespeare’s other macabre plays like Titus Andronicus, Richard III, Macbeth, and Hamlet - all of which have been done before over and over. We’re trying to bring something new to our audiences. I also believe it is just as accessible," Fair said. "The same type of plot elements, character archetypes and character relationships that are familiar from his other plays, audiences will recognize in The Spanish Tragedy.”

Fair said that Hudson Shakespeare also likes to bring twists to their shows, often setting them in a different time period. In this case, they’ve chosen to set their version of the Spanish Tragedy as if you’re in a Spanish Gothic/Tim Burton mash-up.

“There’s a bit of that Spanish Gothic romanticism as well as Tim Burton fantasy we all love around Halloween time," Fair said. "Combined with this, the music lends itself towards classic horror movie flicks. It’s a real Halloween treat.”

Hudson Shakespeare recommends that The Spanish Tragedy is rated PG-13 for violence performed on stage and may not be appropriate for children under 13.

Photo caption 1: BelImperia (Brett Molik) and Horatio (Evan Brodsky) share a stolen moment while they are stalked by the jealous Balthazar (Juan Pablo Mendive). Photo submitted.

Photo caption 2: The evil spirit of Revenge (Anne M. Whitaker) looms over doomed lovers of BelImperia (Brett Molik) and Horatio (Evan Brodsky). Photo submitted.

Photo caption 3: Revenge (Anne M. Whitaker, center) directs the cycle of murder and mayhem affecting the lover Belimperia (Brett Molik, left) and Horatio (Evan Brodsky, right) flanked by his father Hieronimo (Jon Ciccarelli) seeking to kill Balthazar (Juan Pablo Mendive). Photo submitted.

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