During this summer in Chelsea, the streets have come alive with a bilingual rendition of “Hamlet.” The Apollinaire Theatre Company, in partnership with Teatro Chelsea and the city of Chelsea, unveiled an immersive adaptation that caters to both English and Spanish speakers. Performances are taking place on Fridays and Saturdays from August 4 to 19.
The theater has been putting on bilingual theater for about 20 years. But, according to artistic director for Apollinaire Theatre Company Danielle Fauteux Jacques, this marks their third of presenting shows in both English and Spanish within the same production, instead of switching between languages for different shows.
“We've been looking for shows that are somewhat well known that people can follow in one language or the other, and then how to create them in a way that involves the audience, that creates an adventure,” Jacques said on Boston Public Radio Monday. “That was kind of one of the guiding ideas behind how this ‘Hamlet’ was created.”
Armando Rivera, who plays Hamlet, said getting the meaning of Hamlet’s words across is all about clarity — in both English and Spanish.
He is dedicated to elevating stories that spotlight the bilingual journey and connect with a range of communities. Rivera explains that, in “Hamlet,” his character's emotional state “has to translate not only to an audience of about 300 that might be watching, but also translate universally.”
“The emotions have to be big, which — it's not hard with Hamlet. I mean, he's dealing with the biggest existential crisis of all,” Rivera said. “It's actually really liberating that I can bring out those emotions and bring them right up to the front.”
Hamlet is usually a play that can go on for hours but Jacque’s production is 90 minutes long. And this play is moving — literally.
Jacques said that she looked for ways to use both the built environment and Chelsea Square and the audience themselves to help tell the story. The company created a pop-up beer garden where they do an hour and a half–long pre-show that includes music and comedy. Following that, the beer garden is turned into the location where a wedding is announced. There’s even a wedding cake that they share with the audience.
“So we’re using all those elements to try to create a very engaging and exciting [show] and you don't know what's going to happen next and where it's going to happen next,” Jacques said.
Staging the play on the city’s streets means that they’re bound to interruptions, too. But Rivera is glad and proud that, since the theater has been staging outdoor shows for so many years, its productions are familiar to some — though not all — of its Chelsea neighbors.
“Even during the show, we’re using the same sidewalks, so people are walking in with their strollers,” Rivera said. “We’re the strange ones! I’m the dude wearing all black in the middle of summer. ... Middle of show, someone might ask me, crossing the street, ‘What are you guys doing?’”
Thanks to support from the city, the performance is offered free of charge. The Apollinaire Theatre Company's production is backed by Mass Development's TDI initiative, aimed at expediting economic growth.
“That's what's made it possible for us to do the show on the scale and to do it in downtown Chelsea. The city's supporting us with the financial grant, but also they're bringing us the stage. They're bringing the Department of Public Works, closing off the streets, sets up the barriers for the beer garden, and they come out and help us retrofit the street lights with floodlights,” said Jacques.
That support played a pivotal role in bringing the show to life, which is creating a source of joy for people walking by.
“What's been most gratifying is people are just like, ‘I can't believe this is happening here,’” Jacques said. “They’re just so excited that this is happening right in their community.”
“There's a pride in that,” Rivera added. “There's a pride that something like this is happening in our city.”
