Bernhardt/Hamlet

High Comedy + Human Drama
by Theresa Rebeck

Mark Twain wrote: “There are five kinds of actresses: bad actresses, fair actresses, good actresses, great actresses—and then there is Sarah Bernhardt.” It’s 1899 in Paris, and legendary diva Sarah Bernhardt needs a crowd-pleaser to save her debt-ridden theatre company. So she decides to ditch the dresses and tackle her most ambitious role yet: Hamlet!  The city watches to see whether this bold plan will be her legacy or folly. High comedy and human drama collide in this vivid account of a 19th century woman issuing a challenge to the system. And it’s as timely as ever.