The Neo-Futurists are at it again with the thought-provoking, baffling, irreverent, confuddling new play “Daredevil’s Hamlet.” In true Neo-Futurist form this play offers more than their clever title initially implies.

Written by Neo-Futurist Ryan Walters, the play explores the work of Hamlet, led by the charming male members of the of the Neo-Futurist company including Walters himself, John Pierson, Anthony Courser, Jay Torrence, Brennan Buhl and even “the Intern-Trevor!” The play is a compilation of small scenes following the basic storyline of Hamlet, combining the acrobatic antics of ‘Daredevils!,’ the 2005 Neo-futurist play, all the while exploring the major themes of Hamlet: revenge, identity, masculinity, love, family, and death. “Daredevil’s Hamlet” is like a steady stream of consciousness; simultaneously flowing together while at the same time not having any rhyme or reason to the order of things.

Each player takes a scene or a theme from Hamlet and interprets it in their own unique way. One of the more charming and funny stories was Brennan Buhl, dressed in swimming trunks and wearing water wings, coming center stage to talk about a childhood memory involving some other boys with him in a kiddie pool where “wild time” vs. “calm time” were rules to follow. Brennan’s aunt would have equal time shared between these two times, 3 minutes each with “calm time,” designating everyone sit still, and “wild time,” letting the boys splash Brennan with no mercy. When his aunt ceases calling the different times to go into the house, his brothers “wild time” reigns and poor Brennan is left to fend for himself, with no relief in sight. During the play audience members actually get water guns to squirt Brennan while screaming “wild time” in order to recreate this childhood scene. This story, while seemingly random, equated to a central theme in Hamlet: justice and fairness. When rules are established and come down, what is a man to do? Does one rebel or follow the masses? What is fair and just and who decides this? And lastly, what happens when authority leaves and cooler heads don’t prevail?

Anthony Courser’s interpretation of masculinity called into play his favorite childhood character, Robin Hood. “Why would any child choose to be Hamlet, he didn’t even have a bow, or an action figure!” Anthony fires arrows using a Nerf gun in his makeshift cardboard archery armor to delve into the perception of masculinity in his mind versus that of Shakespeare.

Another Hamletisque theme, and a resurgent theme in today’s world, “Bromance” is explored when Jon Pierson, aided by Ryan Walters, describes a tender and intimate moonlit night with a male friend, staring out at the night’s sky and being within inches of one another, feeling a deep love and connection but not being in love. Can two men love one another without being in love as Horatio and Hamlet did? Is this experience still felt today?

These are just some of the interpretations provided by the fantastic cast of Daredevil’s Hamlet. There is no doubt, this play might leave you stumped for a quite a bit while you are watching it, but that is half the fun of visiting the Neo-Futurarium. This is the thinking man’s Hamlet, if Hamlet were to have been written with the philosophical jackass cast. Like the character of Hamlet, the players allow themselves to show their vulnerability, their faults and their frailties, and it’s because of this that Daredevil’s Hamlet is a success. It questions the crucial themes from the play; if your uncle killed your father, would you avenge him? Can two men share a deep plutonic love for one another without having to fear ridicule?

There’s nothing wrong in this state of Denmark, so make your way over to Ashland and Foster and see this charming play.

Daredevils’ Hamlet” runs through September 25, 2010 at The Neo-Futurarium at 5153 N. Ashland in Chicago. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.NeoFuturists.org.

*Above photo - Jay Torrence, John Pierson, Trevor Dawkins, Ryan Walters,
Anthony Courser, Brennan Buhl; Ryan Walters performing "To be or not to Be" soliloquy from Hamlet