By Amanda Knox

No doubt, Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is a challenging play for anyone. Not only is it light on the action and heavy on the dialogue, but that dialogue is either straight out of Shakespeare or Stoppard’s own dense, contemporary British witticism. It’s an absurdist, existentialist comedy—meaning that it hilariously concerns itself with themes of hopelessness and death. Not only that, but going into it, the audience should do their homework and be familiar with Hamlet in order to follow the plot and keep up with many of the jokes. Take the following exchange, in which Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are discussing the brief glimpses they and the audience have of Hamlet’s strange behavior:

G: I think I have it. A man talking sense to himself is no madder than a man talking nonsense not to himself.
R: Or just as mad.
G: Or just as mad.
R: And he does both.
G: So there you are.
R: Stark raving sane.

Feeling a bit stark raving sane yourself? So do the students performing it. Henry Hossner, of the ensemble, admits, “It’s confusing. I still don’t know entirely what’s going on.” Andrew Haggery, the Player, puts it a different way: “It’s engaging. With every line, there’s always some new idea to interpret.”

It is engaging, and brilliant, and fun. And the West Seattle High School Drama Club, directed by Literature and Drama teacher Andrew Finley, manages to pull it off.

The cast—and in particular, leads Peter Bryson, Kaya Hubbard, and Andrew Haggerty—impressively don’t let any lines slip by un-interpreted. Haggerty in particular exudes confidence and clarity through all the innuendo. Bryson and Hubbard have good chemistry—whether that be in taking solace in each other or butting heads. The motley ensemble clearly takes joy in transitioning back and forth between solemnity and silliness.

The set almost steals the show. Built only of barrels and pallet boards, it features a horseshoe-shaped balcony and stairway, a throne straight out of Game of Thrones, and has personality and surprises all its own.

Finley admitted that he has been waiting thirteen years for the right group of students for this play. West Seattle High Schools Drama Club pulls it off in the best way possible: you stop and think, and you have fun—so much so that you forget how challenging it is.

Performances open this evening at 7:30 p.m. at West Seattle High School (3000 California Ave SW) and run November 6-8, and 12-14. Tickets cost $12 at the door or $7 with a reservation, which you may make by emailing tickets@westsidedrama.com.