It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Starr Gennett Building in Hamlet, IN gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Hamlet, IN is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Very positive experience with Always Best Care. Had a great group of ladies taking care”
“Frankly, I never wanted to be in a position wherein I was asked to review”
“Our mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer and immediately needed meds administered multiple times a”
“I have worked alongside Always Best Care and they have been amazing. Very quick”
“ABC is a great place to be! Thank you Patti, Stephanie, and Michele for all”
“Best Company I’ve ever encountered. I love how flexible and efficient they are. I love”
“I give always best care of 5 stars. They are caring and have a sincere”
“Always Best Care has been exceptional the four years i’ve worked there. The staff and”
“it is my pleasure to leave a review for the Coffee need that support the”
“I have worked with more home health agencies than I care to remember, both in”
“We used ABC several years ago for my dad, after he had a stroke. I”
“We used ABC several years ago for my dad, after he had a stroke. I”
“I love working for Always Best Care The staff is very helpful, encouraging wonderful, loving”
“Always Best Care gives great encouragement and support to their caregivers during any situation or”
“I love the company I think they really do care about the employee the residents”
“Stephanie Stevens is a great CSD! Thanks for all you do!”
“Always Best care is amazing!”
“Always Best Care is a great company. Not only do they provide the best care”
“We have used Always Best Care two different times for our Mother. Both times the”
“Hi my name is Linda and I've been working with always best care for 2”
“Always best care has always been there when I needed them! They make it convenient for”
“I have used quite a few different providers and ABC is by far the best”
“Great place to work at very professional and appreciative for their staff”
“Overall a great company to work for! They do a wonderful job recognizing caregivers; from”
“They really help people when they need it”
“Very positive experience with Always Best Care. Had a great group of ladies taking care of my Mother- in law. Always being respectful of her needs. Communication between the office and client was top notch! Special thanks to Stephanie!”
“Frankly, I never wanted to be in a position wherein I was asked to review care for my parents. That said, Always Best is aptly named. Stephanie Stevens and Kelly Robinson are kind and human and not without humor, and having endured everything that we did, I can honestly say that part of me loves them deeply. I hope I never forget the gift they gave my family.”
“Our mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer and immediately needed meds administered multiple times a day. After speaking to the independent living center where she resided, our family decided to hire Always Best Care for the meds (and then later for 24-hour aids). We cannot say enough about Darlene and Candy, as well as the numerous aids. Even at the end when our mom no longer needed the meds, they would often stop by to see her anyway. We generally do not give reviews of companies, but their caring approach was exceptional and we decided it was appropriate for others who need these services to know about our experience.”
“I have worked alongside Always Best Care and they have been amazing. Very quick to help out patients in need and staff is very polite and professional.”
“ABC is a great place to be! Thank you Patti, Stephanie, and Michele for all you do! You all are Awesome & thank you for the honors of being part of the team also acknowledging myself for Employee of the Month of March! You all are appreciated”
“Best Company I’ve ever encountered. I love how flexible and efficient they are. I love the open door policy. Michelle is my favorite schedule she does an amazing job with communication.”
“I give always best care of 5 stars. They are caring and have a sincere heart I love working with this agency..”
“Always Best Care has been exceptional the four years i’ve worked there. The staff and schedulers, especially Michele, are helpful in finding compatibility for your clients, they’re also flexible in scheduling hours. Great company, great staff.”
“it is my pleasure to leave a review for the Coffee need that support the most I would like Stephanie Kramer for supporting me and helping me get through my work schedules and feel comfortable at my place of employment. I am sad to see that she left Scheduling , but she still tries her best to help everyone even with her new position. Her dedication means everything I would like to Tasha as well for communicating with me so much I also cannot forget Patricia and Michelle as well. You ladies help me so much with my client. I greatly appreciate you ladies. I appreciate all of the hard work and dedication that you ladies have with meeting me halfway when it comes to our job it definitely makes everything much easier. Keep up the great work as well as the rest of the staff thank you ladies for everything that you do and congratulations Monique on your new position.”
“I have worked with more home health agencies than I care to remember, both in GA and MI, when I worked in healthcare; and I have to say that Always Best Care is one of the best home health care agencies that I have found since the early 90's !!! I have been a client with Always Best Care since February 2022 and I have been extremely pleased with the help I have received both from my caregivers and the office staff. All the staff work hard and the quality of care is exceptional!!! The few occasions that I didn't like a caregiver because of either poor work ethic or personality, Always Best Care always took care of finding another caregiver to better meet my needs ASAP!! When I first started with Always Best Care I did get a few caregivers that weren't a good fit. But, within a very short period of time my scheduler learned my specific needs and personality and she found caregivers for me that were a wonderful match!! As in every area of healthcare, the high turnover of employees is to be expected!!! But, Always Best Care has always made sure that I have a new caregiver that matches my needs and expectations!! I have and would, highly recommend Always Best Care for your home health daily care!!”
“We used ABC several years ago for my dad, after he had a stroke. I called a few months ago to set up a care plan for my elderly mom. She had a hip replaced, and lives alone. I knew we would feel better having someone there to help her and visit with her until she could get up and around on her own. ABC works through our scheduling nightmares (mom tends to send people home early, and tell them not to come back)….and they have been SO patient with our ever changing and increasing needs for mom. Their response time and communication are impeccable!!”
“We used ABC several years ago for my dad, after he had a stroke. I called a few months ago to set up a care plan for my elderly mom. She had a hip replaced, and lives alone. I knew we would feel better having someone there to help her and visit with her until she could get up and around on her own. ABC works through our scheduling nightmares (mom tends to send people home early, and tell them not to come back)….and they have been SO patient with our ever changing and increasing needs for mom. Their response time and communication are impeccable!!”
“I love working for Always Best Care The staff is very helpful, encouraging wonderful, loving family. Thank you for the opportunity of serving for your company thank you to Michelle, who is always looking out for me and making sure that I have the hours that I need.”
“Always Best Care gives great encouragement and support to their caregivers during any situation or time of need. The care and dedication to their staff is incredible and I throughly enjoy my time working along side them!”
“I love the company I think they really do care about the employee the residents”
“Stephanie Stevens is a great CSD! Thanks for all you do!”
“Always Best care is amazing!”
“Always Best Care is a great company. Not only do they provide the best care for their clients, but they go above and beyond for their staff as well.”
“We have used Always Best Care two different times for our Mother. Both times the care was excellent. I have referred Always Best Care to several people.”
“Hi my name is Linda and I've been working with always best care for 2 years now and it's a great atmosphere I like coming in to work meeting new people. It's a place that's kind friendly and it makes you feel at home it makes you feel that you're working with people that understand you know you're different needs your different hours and if something come up they are there to help you with anything that you need help with it's a great company I'm so glad I signed up with the company I signed up a little bit after the pandemic and I just needed somewhere that I could really consider myself at home or I find a home and I have I'm amazed at how the people are so nice when you talk to them on the phone how nice they are friendly you can tell this saying it with a smile I enjoy working there I tell people ask me where I work at always best care they like what yeah always best care yes it's a nice company sign up with it you won't regret it I'm glad I do it I'm really glad I did”
“Always best care has always been there when I needed them! They make it convenient for me to take care of my father. I most definitely recommend them!”
“I have used quite a few different providers and ABC is by far the best company. From the office staff to the caregivers, they are doing what they love and it shows.”
“Great place to work at very professional and appreciative for their staff”
“Overall a great company to work for! They do a wonderful job recognizing caregivers; from big recognition like a monthly caregiver award and random drawings, to small recognition such as any time you visit the office you are free to grab snacks, beverages, gear and more often than not there is some type of food they have ordered that is available. They really don’t hold back in this area! There has been quite a bit of changes made in office positions within the last year. Response time, outside of the scheduling department, can be improved upon.”
“They really help people when they need it”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Starr Gennett Building in Hamlet, IN with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local King Gourmet or visit Historic Landmarks, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Hamlet, IN, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Hamlet, IN understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Hamlet, IN 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A poignant adaptation of a Shakespeare classic provides actors with Down syndrome a role in the spotlight. Teatro La Plaza will make its Penn State debut with “Hamlet” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, in Eisenhower Auditorium.Call the Arts Ticket Center at 814-863-0255, or visit “Hamlet” online for more information and to purchase tickets. The Center for the Performing Arts and the Arts Ticket Center are parts of the Penn State College of Arts and Architecture.The production is pr...
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A poignant adaptation of a Shakespeare classic provides actors with Down syndrome a role in the spotlight. Teatro La Plaza will make its Penn State debut with “Hamlet” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, in Eisenhower Auditorium.
Call the Arts Ticket Center at 814-863-0255, or visit “Hamlet” online for more information and to purchase tickets. The Center for the Performing Arts and the Arts Ticket Center are parts of the Penn State College of Arts and Architecture.
The production is presented in Spanish with English captions.
“Hamlet” connects William Shakespeare’s classic text and the cast members’ lives in a bold, reconstructed narrative style. Directed by Chela de Ferrari, the actors alternate reciting scenes and passages from the playwright’s original text to deliver an irreverent and honest portrayal of humanity.
Teatro La Plaza, a theater and creative space based in Peru, explores new and classic plays that question, provoke and surprise. Since 2019, the company has performed “Hamlet” in more than 20 countries. “Hamlet” is presented by Aurora Nova.
CPA Director Sita Frederick called Teatro La Plaza’s production “one of the most inspiring plays I have seen, full stop.”
“Shakespeare’s most famous play is combined with the lived experiences of eight Peruvian performers with Down syndrome,” she said. “The characters reveal, wrestle with and overcome barriers. The actors share roles, interview previous ‘Hamlets’ by video, incorporate audience members, and ultimately choose to celebrate life instead of spiraling into inevitable death and rage.”
of Teatro La Plaza “Hamlet.”
“Hamlet” is one of the featured programs in a year-long series created by the Performing Arts and Disability Collaborative, a new initiative made possible in part by a Penn State Humanities Institute Colloquia grant. for more information.
Shakespeare classics
Psychology and the human condition
Disability affirmation and advocacy
Let’s Dance Workshop for All Ages, All Abilities
American Sign Language interpretation will be provided for this performance. or by calling 814-863?0255 no later than Tuesday, Sept, 29, to discuss ASL seating preferences.
Eisenhower Auditorium is certified by KultureCity as a sensory-friendly venue. One goal of the Center for the Performing Arts is to offer everyone an opportunity to enjoy an event, regardless of a guest’s invisible neurodisabilities such as dementia, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and autism.
Guests are welcome to visit a designated quiet space on the lounge level, or sign out a variety of items to help self-regulate, including noise-reducing earmuffs, anti-strobe glasses, lap pads and carefully curated sensory tools. The KultureCity app helps reduce uncertainty by providing pre-visit social stories, so guests know what to expect.
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Sponsored by
Richard R. Brown and Sandra Zaremba
Geisinger
A grant from the University Park Fee Board makes student prices possible.
Accessibility services are provided by Sidney and Helen S. Friedman Endowment.
The Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State, a unit of the College of Art & Architecture, aspires to create connected, sustainable, and equitable communities, where everyone experiences joy, belonging and creativity.
Not many plays have the illustrious honor of having been produced again and again for literal centuries, but few playwrights can boast as many as William Shakespeare. Even so, there is perhaps no work more popular by the Bard than Hamlet, The enduring tale of family, madness and Danish castles regarded for its complexity and universality. When Santa Fe’s Incite Shakespeare Company digs into such a ubiquitous piece, it’s worth taking a look. SFR spoke with actor Emily Rankin—who also serves as the artistic director ...
Not many plays have the illustrious honor of having been produced again and again for literal centuries, but few playwrights can boast as many as William Shakespeare. Even so, there is perhaps no work more popular by the Bard than Hamlet, The enduring tale of family, madness and Danish castles regarded for its complexity and universality. When Santa Fe’s Incite Shakespeare Company digs into such a ubiquitous piece, it’s worth taking a look. SFR spoke with actor Emily Rankin—who also serves as the artistic director for New Mexico Actors Lab—to discuss the iteration before the ISC production comes to a close. Rankin stars as the iconic prince for just a few more productions, and we wanted to learn more about her experience tackling one of fiction’s most influential roles. This interview has been edited for clarity and concision.
This is such a creatively invigorating process for me personally, and I think for the ensemble too, in part because it's less focused on end product or result and much more focused on process. We're a directorless process, so the ensemble is driving what we do in rehearsal every day. It's a quick-raise process, so we jump in. For "Hamlet" in particular, we had four days of rehearsal and then opened. We're not setting blocking other than things that would be dangerous not to set, like intimate moments. Otherwise it's very loose and open, and so the show really changes every night. It forces you to really listen to the rest of the ensemble and to rely on the ensemble as your team, which is just a lovely way to work. Some of the team is using cue scripts, meaning they have only the three words that precede their own line, and then their own lines written down. It really forces you to listen and be present.
One of the best things about ISC is seeing shows multiple times, because audience members get to see how much it changes from show to show. Audiences are really primed for it to be sort of a set end product. In "Hamlet," we have Ariana [Karp] and Andrew [Codispoti] playing multiple roles and changing depending on the show. One night Ariana might be Guildenstern, and the next night she might be Rosencrantz, and we don't know until we hit that scene, which is really exciting. We really like to show our process. We like for folks to be able to see how we work and how we think.
It's a huge role, and it can be intimidating for anyone to play a role that's so well known, so I wanted to really let some of that go and just focus on who I think Hamlet is.. I see a lot of melancholy Hamlets out there, but I was really interested in the mania aspect of him too. He has these low lows and these high highs. I think he's predisposed to melancholy and mania, and then those get amped up as he puts on this madness.
I didn't want him to sink into despair because he has to. There's this idea we have of him as being melancholy and unable to act, and I don't see him that way at all. I think he's always trying to figure out what his next move should be. He's trying to figure out if the ghost of his father is real, if it's telling him the truth. He's constantly searching for the truth, and so I needed to have that engine under him. He can't just kill the king. He would be condemned for life. He has to figure out if this is true, and if so, how he can exact this revenge that he's been called upon by heaven to exact. For me, it always comes back to the truth of him. If I feel truthful in the moment, then I consider it to be a success.
That's why it's lovely to do a stripped-down production like this. We have an eight-person cast. We're in the round in the Actors Lab, so a black box, very minimal set, props and costumes and just the essence of telling the story together as an ensemble.
ISC is really interested in bringing these stories to life for audiences who are new to Shakespeare or have seen hundreds of Shakespeare plays, and they're really interested in certain kinds of original practice. That's why they're doing the quick-raise process. We know that Shakespeare would have also raised his plays very quickly, and then would perform them with his company for many years after that. ISC is part of a loosely organized group of theaters doing what they call modern original practice.
It's [original practice] with a modern twist. That's part of why we don't set specific blocking, because in order to get a play up that fast, you really can't focus on blocking. You have to focus on the relationships between the characters instead. We have things like what we call plats, a run of show that's taped up all around the space so that we can check where we are in the story if we get lost, and we have somebody on book at all times just in case we need to call for a line. We also experiment a little bit with original pronunciation, which is how English would have sounded in London in the 1600s, and there are certain aspects of that in "Hamlet."
Because we have no set blocking, the show really changes and morphs to whatever space it's living in. We've got one show at Meow Wolf on their main stage, and then one more weekend at the lab after that. It's nice with "Hamlet" in particular, because I think it's a play where you can really second guess yourself and your own choices if given too much time. It's nice to just sort of be thrown in and have to listen and be present with people.
Hamlet
8 pm Wednesday, July 29. $43.82. Meow Wolf, 1352 Rufina Circle., (866) 636-9969
7:30 pm Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1; 2:30 pm Sunday, August 2. $35 suggested donation. New Mexico Actors Lab, 1213 Parkway Drive B, (505) 395-6576
The Oak Park Festival Theatre's take on Shakespeare's classic, directed by Peter G. Andersen, is a blend of modernization and appreciation.RECOMMENDEDOak Park Festival Theatre’s new production of “Hamlet,” directed by artistic director Peter G. Andersen, is an engrossing and emotionally legible rendition. This “Hamlet” is true to Shakespeare’s text with subtle modernizing touches, presented under what Hamlet calls “this most magical canopy” in Oak Park’s ...
RECOMMENDED
Oak Park Festival Theatre’s new production of “Hamlet,” directed by artistic director Peter G. Andersen, is an engrossing and emotionally legible rendition. This “Hamlet” is true to Shakespeare’s text with subtle modernizing touches, presented under what Hamlet calls “this most magical canopy” in Oak Park’s Austin Gardens.
As Hamlet, Drew Bos stalks onstage in the play’s second scene in a leather duster, launching into the first of many speeches that feel like unguarded conversations with us. Bos’ Hamlet is a restless aesthete straight out of the lecture hall, mansplaining theater to the Players and attempting to be the smartest guy in the room as he argues with the King and court.
Attended by a bookish Horatio (Lucas Prizant) and a fratty Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (Gabriel Armstrong and Pedro Jimenez), Bos’ Hamlet means well but has his head too far up his ass to actually do well. He does truly love Ophelia (Olive Gallagher), which makes their relationship’s dissolution deeply disturbing.
Gallagher is excellent as Ophelia, a fluttery bohemian torn by the many directions her loved ones pull her in. Hamlet and Ophelia’s relationship is best exemplified by a makeout session interrupted by Laertes (Brenna DiStassio), which leads directly into a scene of Laertes and Polonius counseling (more lecturing) Ophelia. Both Laertes and Polonius (Patrice Egleston) are women here, which changes the tenor of their advice. These speeches often feel patronizing from the mouths of male actors, but here you genuinely appreciate that they’re looking out for their little sister and daughter.
This dynamic has a damning mirror image in Hamlet’s fractured relationship with his mother Gertrude (Jodi Gage) and uncle-cum-stepfather Claudius (Josh Carpenter, truly smarmy in a cravat and smoking jacket). You can tell that Gertrude married Claudius for propriety’s sake, but also carries a deep shame about how she has hurt her son.
Taylor Pfenning’s costumes are apt character studies in and of themselves, complemented well by Devin Cameron’s dramatic lighting design. Cameron’s light beautifully catches the muslin hanging from the arches of Evan Frank’s courtyard set. Brought together by Justin Cavazos’ paranoid synth score, this “Hamlet” is a finely tuned piece of work. The captions, provided by August Forman, are a valuable addition for accessibility, as well as keeping track of the play’s dense language for those less than comfortable with classical language.
Oak Park Festival Theatre’s fifty-first season runs “Hamlet” in repertory with Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest.” As different as those plays may seem, the Festival stresses that the plays meet on terms of “love, family, and finding one’s self.” Andersen’s production does right by “Hamlet” by pulling these themes to the fore.
“Hamlet” is onstage at the Oak Park Festival Theatre, 167 Forest Avenue, Oak Park, through August 15. Tickets are available here.
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