Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

  • December 1st, 1994 - December 11th, 1994
  • Bronwyn Dodson Theatre
  • Drama
  • Contemporary Piece Series
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Cast Alternates Between Sexes in Seasons Last Play

— Fullerton College Hornet  - Debbie Fleig - Monday, December 12th, 1994
FC's production, 'Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead,' alternates every night from a female to male cast. Rosencrantz is performed by Nathan Baesael andRebekah Bourne and Guildenstern is portrayed by Sean McNall and Melissa Yearta.

Wanted: Two men with absolutely no common sense. Must be gullible, yet witty.

Fortunately for Fullerton College theater majors, there are.

They are the main characters of "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead," two men anyone can outwit. "To understand R & G,' you need to have some understanding of 'Hamlet'," said Director Bob Jensen.

"R & G" is a take-off of "Hamlet," a story about two men who do not realize they have given themselves their own death sentence. They plot to have Hamlet killed, but Hamlet gets their letter and uses it to have them instead.

The two-weekend performance started Thursday, Dec. 1, and ended Sunday, Dec. 11.

Female and male cast dominated the play on alternate nights. "With so many great actors, it was hard for me to decide who got the main parts," Jensen said. "That is when I decided on doing a split cast."

On nights the men were cast, Nathan Baesael performed Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern was played by Sean McNall. When the women were cast, Rosencratz was played by Rebekah Bourne, and Melissa Yearta portrayed Guildenstern.

With a split cast, audience members wanted to return. "I saw opening night with the guys cast and now I want to see it again, but this time with the female cast," theater arts major Dyan Hobday said.

Jensen is hoping with the success of "Hamlet," many of the same audience members will come back to see.