I caught the latest production at the Haymarket Theatre downtown last week, Shakespeare's "Hamlet." Only on a couple of occasions have I been as impressed with a local production.

Because these actors don't have an equity card (the stage actors' union) it's deemed an amateur company. Equity, schmequity, this group is good. The guest equity actor in this production is flawless and deserves all credit due, but the rest of this cast does this only for the love of stage, and it shows.

Lincoln, go see this show. It's legitimate theatre at its local best. It's real drama. I know what you're saying about now (use your whiny voice here): "But I don't understand what they're saying!" Hogwash! Good actors, and these are, are more than capable of conveying all the truth and meaning necessary to understand this most famous of tragedies.

It doesn't cost much more than a movie, and if you want, you can even have a cocktail at intermission. Lincoln, this theater needs to be a part of our city. It puts us in a better place culturally. Support it! Go see Hamlet! The play's the thing.

Joel Story, Lincoln