Playing the great Belle Époque actress Sarah Bernhardt, who is herself, preparing to play Hamlet, Janet McTeer proves to be a woman not only for all seasons, but particularly and triumphantly for this one. Theresa Rebeck’s world premiere play, “Bernhardt/Hamlet,” is an investigation of creative genius in female form. The part gives McTeer not only a potentially career-defining star turn, but one that is uncannily tuned in to the current zeitgeist of traditional gender power dynamics that continue to challenge newly empowered women.
Review — Bernhardt/Hamlet — BN+ — Roundabout Theatre Company — Moritz von Stuelpnagel — Matthew Saldivar — Ito Aghayere — Janet McTeer — Theresa Rebeck — Sarah Bernhardt — Bradley King — Beowulf Boritt — Nick Westrate — Brittany Bradford — Aaron Costa Ganis — Triney Sandoval — Dylan Baker — Jason Butler Harner — Toni-Leslie James — Tony Carlin — Hamlet — Constant Coquelin — Matthew Amendt — Jenelle Chu — Kate Levy — Chris Thorn
