Since 2012, New World Shakespeare Company has been providing a space for artists and audiences to explore classical works, operating under the belief that Shakespeare is for everyone. The company prides itself on presenting Shakespeare in a way that feels fresh, intentional, and brand new. Such is the case with its November production of Hamlet, led by and starring Salt Lake City actor and playwright Élise C. Hanson.

Hanson is no stranger to the role, having played the Danish prince ten years ago. She returns to the stage with passion and focus, bringing an incredible depth of knowledge and profound love of the piece to this production. It is Hanson’s belief that one plays Hamlet because they have to play Hamlet, because the role lives inside them, under their skin, and because they know no other way than this. Hanson embodies Hamlet with nuance, subtlety, and fervor, her attachment to the role and grasp of the work evident in her efforts. Hanson is joined by a cast of deeply committed and capable actors from Salt Lake City, a cast of nine.

Ransacking Hamlet is a Herculean task, yet there is a reason we keep doing it year after year, century after century. Hamlet remains the mostproduced play of all time, performed the world over every hour of every day. Hamlet is part of Shakespeare’s revenge upon revenge tragedy, and is of no genre. Of all poems, it is the most unlimited. As a meditation upon human fragility in confrontation with death, it competes only with the world’s scriptures.

If, as with an open box, one could turn the entire play of Hamlet over and empty it out, its scattered contents would defy reassembly into the doggedly coherent entity that skates sublimely through our consciousness, transcending the sum of its components. Of all Shakespeare’s Creations of Man, Hamlet is the crown. Just as the character Hamlet adores theatre above all else, theatre adores Hamlet back, and we return to this scriptwithreverenceand genuflectionfor preciselythe same reasons that give Hamlet its reputation as a hallowed and illustrious complexity. This production, presented in a perfect round, offers a chance to rememberwhyweloveHamlet.