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Last Wednesday, Dr. Heidi Chambers, Ms. Sally Hawthorne, Mr. Pauncho Hufstetler, Dr. Joe Kelly, and Mrs. Leigh Powell introduced nearly 30 Bainbridge High School students to the world of Shakespearean theater. The production featured a talented cast bringing Shakespeare’s Hamlet to life. Grant Chapman portrayed the brooding Prince Hamlet, while Alfredo Antillon took on the role of Laertes. Rodney Clark and Michael Doherty shared duties as Gravediggers, with Doherty also playing Marcellus. Ellen Grace Diehl appeared as a soldier and Osric, while Tarah Flanagan played Player Queen and Shelley Fort portrayed Rosencrantz.

Further enriching the production, Christopher Gerson embodied the haunting Ghost, and Jihan Haddad performed as Ophelia. Greta Lambert took on the role of Polonius, with Karack Osborn as Player King and Christian Pedersen as Captain Bernardo. Ronald Roman Melendez played Lucianus, Han Vansciver portrayed the loyal Horatio, Kanoa Sims brought depth to Gertrude, and Regan Sims took on the role of Priest—the commanding presence of Stephen Thorne as Claudius and Tobia Wilson as Guildenstern rounded out the ensemble cast.

The group traveled to The Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery, Alabama, to watch a professional, theatrical performance of Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet. The only school in attendance from Georgia, when each school’s name was called out, we made our group, though small, sound much larger with shouts of pride to represent BHS.

Afterward, students went to lunch at Jason’s Deli, where they met Han Vansciver, who graciously answered Hamlet questions from the students. BHS student Anna Shea described Vansciver as “very engaging and intelligent.” Another student, Sheldon Weekley, said, “I could tell they really loved what they did.”  “And how passionate they are about what they do on stage.” Elana Sheffield added, “They were very kind, approachable, and made us feel very comfortable throughout the time we spent speaking with them.” Each student who spent most of their lunch with VanSciver said how much they enjoyed the play and the experience of interacting with one of the key actors.