Redeemer Christian’s cast presents a hilarious production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

Published May 26, 2025

Last updated May 26, 2025

12 minute read

From left to right: Joshua Dyck (Rosencrantz), Ruth Vuyk (tragedian), Eli Kaiser (tragedian), Aaron Kaiser (Guildenstern), Luc Fohr (the Player), and Savvy Steiginga (tragedian) during Redeemer Christian High School’s Cappies production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, on April 26, 2025. Photo by Rohan Balaram /StudentArticle content

Show #20
Redeemer Christian High School
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
Director: Ashley Visser

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Chiara Frangione, Lead Critic
St. Pius X High School

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When the minor characters find themselves entangled within the drama of someone else’s story, how will they protect themselves? Is it justifiable to obey commands that betray human morality, to escape an unforeseen death? Redeemer Christian High School’s tragically comedic portrayal of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead sparked philosophical inquiry, unravelling the harsh truth of human existence, death, and tragedy.

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The play, written by Tom Stoppard, recounts the story of Hamlet through the witty perspectives of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern when the two men are sent to spy on Hamlet by the new king and queen. Meanwhile, Hamlet, having discovered that Claudius murdered his father, enlists The Tragedians to stage a play that will expose the king’s guilt. The play backfires and leads Claudius to sentence Hamlet to death. In a cruel twist of fate, Guildenstern and Rosencrantz are also killed. Blending absurdist humour with tragic depth, the play examines the nature of existence and the destructive power of revenge, culminating in the demise of all its characters.

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Aaron Kaiser’s emotionally charged portrayal of Guildenstern brought the play’s engrossing themes to life, as it captured the essence of its existential and tragic undertones. Kaiser consistently portrayed an astute gentleman by maintaining a consistent vocal projection, all the while rambling about the character’s philosophical theories. Rage and rawness were emulated in the tremors of the actor’s hands and laborious breaths while wielding a knife against Player’s neck; a stark contrast to the calm demeanour in earlier scenes, showcasing the actor’s impressive emotional range. Joshua Dyck’s portrayal of Rosencrantz provided comedic relief, balancing the play’s heavier themes with moments of levity. The actor’s nuanced micro-mannerisms added depth to the performance, contributing to a truly original and captivating experience. Dyck and Kaiser’s dynamic connection, paired with their endless banter in the badminton and podcast scenes, lightened the mood and injected an infectious energy into the performance.

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Luc Fohr as the Player, Aaron Kaiser as Guildenstern, and Joshua Dyck as Rosencrantz during Redeemer Christian High School’s Cappies production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, on April 26, 2025. Photo by Rohan Balaram /StudentArticle content

With unfaltering charisma and charm, the cast completely immersed themselves in their performances. Providing confidence and composure, Luc Fohr’s blunt line delivery and expressive body language captured the essence of an actor fully absorbed in their craft. Likewise, The Tragedians embodied the limpness and lifelessness of dead bodies as they faked their deaths, reinforcing the play’s key themes and messages. Raucous comedy was provided as Eli Kaiser boisterously mimicked the mannerisms and femininity of Queen Gertrude, sporting a lady-like smile while playfully toying with the queen’s dress. Alexander Daccash, in the role of Hamlet, brought madness and uncontrollable rage to the stage during his quarrel with Ophelia. Ophelia, played by Michaela Wyngaarden, echoed Daccash’s sentiments with piercing screams.

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Notably, Prince Hamlet’s Royal Exercise Squad’s dynamic stretches provided a playful touch, facilitating a seamless transition into subsequent scenes with spunk and enthusiasm.

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With flashes of light, era-accurate costumes, handmade props, and intricately crafted sets, the tech crews perfectly captured the mood and atmosphere of the Elizabethan period. Multi Coloured flashing lights and eye-catching, handmade swords were employed to create the illusion of danger and peril during the pirates’ raid. The set crew effectively executed many hand-painted set elements, such as the barrels and the cobblestone. Notably, the sets emulated the layout of wings and stage levels with precision. The costumes were carefully sourced, capturing the likeness of the characters with striking accuracy, and the student-made doublets further enriched the costumes, adding a unique touch of authenticity.

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Redeemer Christian High School’s enactment of the tragicomedy Rosencrantz and Guildenstern was Dead brought to life a realm where loyalty, trust, and self-fulfillment collided, leaving behind the calamity of death, all the while inciting infectious laughter.

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Evita Ramos, Critic
A.Y. Jackson Secondary School

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If life is but a game, Redeemer Christian High School’s cast of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead played it with wit, energy, and impeccable comic timing. Mixing existential dread with laugh-out-loud absurdity, this production of Tom Stoppard’s darkly funny classic had the audience hanging on every tossed coin and every brilliantly baffling speech.

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Originally penned in 1966, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead follows two minor characters from Shakespeare’s Hamlet as they wander through an increasingly confusing world, caught between destiny and dumb luck. Part philosophy lecture, part vaudeville act, the play asks big questions like “What is life?” and “Did we just miss our cue?” all while balancing slapstick, wordplay, and a whole lot of bad luck.

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Joshua Dyck playing Rosencrantz and Aaron Kaiser playing Guildenstern were a comedy duo for the ages, their chemistry so natural it seemed less like acting and more like two lifelong friends accidentally trapped in a Shakespearean fever dream. Dyck’s physical comedy was a constant delight; a raised eyebrow, a bewildered stumble, or a perfectly timed double-take kept the audience chuckling through even the most head-scratching monologues. Meanwhile, Kaiser’s mastery of Guildenstern’s nonsense ramblings was jaw-dropping, every absurd word crisply enunciated, every surreal rant easy to follow (or at least as easy as Stoppard intended it to be). Together, Dyck and Kaiser embodied their roles so completely, they might as well have flipped a coin to decide who stole the scene more often.

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Joshua Dyck as Rosencrantz, Aaron Kaiser as Guildenstern, Alexander Daccash as Hamlet, and Luc Fohr the Player during Redeemer Christian High School’s Cappies production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, on April 26, 2025 Photo by Rohan Balaram /StudentArticle content

Alexander Daccash brought gravity and growing madness to the role of Hamlet, shifting from polished prince to fractured mind with a chilling, subtle precision. Whenever Daccash took the stage, he commanded it — but not without a sense of humour. The highlight of his performance (and arguably the entire show) came during the first five-minute intermission, when Hamlet and his personal “Royal Exercise Squad” burst forth, dragging the audience to their feet for a chaotic and hilarious stretch session.

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Luc Fohr, as the Player, was a powerhouse of theatricality. Fohr’s performance was rich with micro-expressions, crisp diction, and enough melodramatic flair to light up the back rows. His booming voice and sly humour made every scene with the Tragedians sparkle. Speaking of sparkle, Eli Kaiser as Alfred could not be overlooked — even if Alfred himself might have preferred it. From distressed glances to exaggerated flails, Kaiser’s comedic timing and facial expressions were simply priceless, providing some of the night’s biggest laughs.

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Technically, the production supported the topsy-turvy storytelling with clever, well-executed choices. The sound effects that rumbled ominously in the background or chimed in with perfect comedic timing added a cinematic feel. Live music from the Tragedian band, both onstage and off, filled the world with a chaotic energy perfectly suited to the play’s spirit. Costumes were thoughtful and sharp: from Hamlet’s regal gold-and-black vest to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s simpler, muted outfits, the wardrobe subtly hinted at status and confusion. Hair and makeup also neatly balanced the classic and contemporary, rooting the characters in their half-real, half-theatrical limbo.

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Rachel Asrat, Lead Critic
St. Francis Xavier High School

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What is the probability that Redeemer Christian High School’s production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead was a masterpiece of Shakespearean proportions? It must be 100 percent certain, as the cast and crew put together a performance that was as hilarious as it was thought-provoking!

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Written by Tom Stoppard, this absurdist tragicomedy is a spin-off of Shakespeare’s classic Hamlet, focused on two minor characters: Prince Hamlet’s old friends turned spies Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Set parallel to the original play, this dark comedy follows the titular characters as they struggle to follow the orders of the traitorous King Claudius and deliver Hamlet to England to be executed. From confrontations with a travelling troupe of Tragedians to internal conflicts about the meaning of life, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern rely on one another to navigate dangerous situations with their trademark humour until the bitter end.

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The cast and crew of Redeemer Christian High School collaborated seamlessly to create an accurate and entertaining production, meeting cues perfectly and maintaining a period-accurate atmosphere throughout the production.

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Joshua Dyck as Rosencrantz and Aaron Kaiser as Guildenstern during Redeemer Christian High School’s Cappies production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, on April 26, 2025. Photo by Rohan Balaram /StudentArticle content

In the role of Guildenstern, Aaron Kaiser was a marvel to behold. Effortlessly delivering macabre musings on the nature of the universe itself and erratic expressions of instability, Kaiser’s shaking rage and listless meditation captured the full range of human emotions. Starring alongside Kaiser, Joshua Dyck took on the role of Rosencrantz and crafted a performance that was equally earnest and exasperating. Eyes wide and eyebrows lifted high, Dyck’s facial microexpressions communicated Rosencrantz’s constant confusion and charming cheerfulness. Kaiser and Dyck played off one another with a tangibly magnetic partnership, their bodies always positioned in awareness of the other. Never missing a beat, the two actors captured the easy camaraderie of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, behaving as two sides of the very same coin.

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In a show of impeccable creativity, the cast and crew of Redeemer Christian High School added a personal spin to the production, introducing Prince Hamlet’s Exercise Squad. Leading an interactive stretching session, this team brought energy and an original flair to the show. This unexpected sequence was performed entirely in character, maintaining the immersion of the performance.

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The lighting, masterfully orchestrated by Ammiel Williams and Atalia Williams, breathed life onto the stage . The varying hues, from the warm glow of the rising sun to the vibrant green of the forest, made for a convincingly compelling production. In a riveting battle between pirates and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, flashes of multicoloured light captured the fiercely dramatic tension of the duel, while simultaneously maintaining the whimsical nature of this comedic production.

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Blending humour and deep philosophy, this dark and witty production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Redeemer Christian High School pondered the complex intricacies that make up time, fate, death, and life itself.

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Gianna Dufresne, Critic
St. Joseph High School

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“To be or not to be?” That is not the question. Redeemer Christian High School’s production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead asks instead what it means to “not be.” Though a grave question, the absurdist comedy manages to explore its themes of life and death with a light-hearted and humorous tone.

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Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead follows the misadventures of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two minor characters from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. As Hamlet’s oldest friends, the two are tasked to discover the cause of his insanity, but after several misfortunes end up dead instead. Throughout the play, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern encounter a death-obsessed troupe of tragedian actors, incompetently attempt to spy on Hamlet, and comically debate philosophical questions of life, death, and probability.

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Joshua Dyck and Aaron Kaiser had delightful chemistry as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Dyck and Kaiser’s performances worked well together to create a charmingly amusing duo. Dyck’s animated facial expressions, exaggerated use of body language, and comedic timing brought the character of Rosencrantz to life. Kaiser had fantastic enunciation and voice projection and proficiently used expressive changes in tone and volume to portray emotion. The pair played off of each other wonderfully, creating the entertaining banter that was the highlight of the play.

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Luc Fohr as the Player, and Jasmine Pulickal, Savvy Steiginga, and Ruth Vuyk as the Tragedians during Redeemer Christian High School’s Cappies production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, on April 26, 2025. Photo by Rohan Balaram /StudentArticle content

Luc Fohr’s relaxed delivery and confident demeanour perfectly fit the character of Player: the leader of the Tragedians. Fohr’s constant, subtle facial expressions and reactions made for a convincing performance. Similarly, Alexander Daccash skillfully played the brooding Hamlet. Daccash’s dramatic voice and body language playfully captured the slow loss of Hamlet’s sanity. Another stand out character was Alfred, one of the Tragedians, played by Eli Kaiser. Kaiser always remained in character in the background of scenes, and had a subtle yet captivating stage presence that added quiet humour to the production.

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Redeemer Christian High School’s creative addition of a stretch break led by Prince Hamlet’s Royal Exercise Squad between Acts 1 and 2 was engaging and hilarious. Alexander Daccash and Eli Kaiser were energetic and interacted well with the audience, creating a lively and refreshing break before diving back into the action of Act 2.

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Accurate costumes are integral to the credibility of a period piece such as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, and the costume crew beautifully provided them. Maria Asiedu and Lucy Zondag supplied colourful, period-accurate costumes that enhanced the quality of the production. A particularly impressive feat was the creation of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s doublets by hand, which exhibited expert skill and attention to detail. The performance was also enhanced by the clever use of lighting to differentiate between locations instead of frequent set changes. The lighting by Ammiel and Atalia Williams communicated time of day, invoked emotion, and hit every cue.

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Redeemer Christian High School’s production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead was an enjoyable and unique experience. Congratulations to the cast and crew for bringing this comedic play to life!

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Silvi Assaf, Critic
St. Francis Xavier High School

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Shakespeare’s Hamlet may have left Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as mere footnotes, but in this production, they take centre stage. Redeemer Christian High School’s production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead brings these overlooked characters to life with brilliance, humour, and a touch of absurdity.

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This absurdist play by Tom Stoppard follows two minor characters from Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, as they wander through a world where fate and existence are beyond their control. The pair, lost in an endless cycle of confusion and seemingly random events, reflect on life, death, and the meaning of their existence, all with a mix of humour and deep philosophical undertones.

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Redeemer Christian High School’s rendition of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead successfully balances the play’s witty dialogue and existential themes, offering a performance that is both intellectually engaging and entertaining. The chemistry between the two leads, Joshua Dyck as Rosencrantz and Aaron Kaiser as Guildenstern, was immediately apparent, with their impeccable timing, facial expressions, and skillful interruptions of each other’s dialogue. Their contrasting personalities, Rosencrantz’s more carefree nature and Guildenstern’s anxiety and obsession with logic, complemented each other perfectly, enhancing the absurdity of their situation.

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Eli Kaiser as a Tragedian, Luc Fohr as the Player, Alexander Daccash as Hamlet, and Jasmine Pulickal and Savvy Steiginga as Tragedians during Redeemer Christian High School’s Cappies production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, on April 26, 2025. Photo by Rohan Balaram /StudentArticle content

Aaron Kaiser, as Guildenstern, stood out with his expressive body language and tone, portraying a character who constantly seeks to understand the inexplicable. His use of facial expressions, especially when silent, gave depth to Guildenstern’s troubled mind. On the other hand, Joshua Dyck’s performance as Rosencrantz was a highlight in its humour and physicality. His use of body language and vocal tone made him a comedic force, effortlessly lightening the play’s more sombre moments.

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The supporting cast also played a vital role in enriching the production. Luc Fohr, as the Player, brought an air of mystery and drama to the stage with his captivating body language. Meanwhile, the ensemble, particularly Prince Hamlet’s Royal Exercise Squad, provided a fun and unexpected interlude. This inventive addition, a short intermission filled with stretches, was a unique and humorous way to break up the action and engage the audience.

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The production made creative use of the limited space, with students constructing their own stage, while quick costume changes kept the pace lively and engaging. The lighting was thoughtfully executed, with a stunning sunrise effect that elevated the atmosphere. Additionally, the subtle ocean and seagull sounds, paired with the lighting design, skillfully established a strong sense of place.

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Overall, Redeemer Christian High School’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is a remarkable performance that cleverly combines humour with deep philosophical reflection. From the engaging dialogue to the strong performances and inventive use of space and sound, this production challenges our perception of theater, leaving us to ask: how often do we fail to recognize the extraordinary in the ordinary?

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Luc Fohr as the Player during Redeemer Christian High School’s Cappies production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, on April 26, 2025. Photo by Rohan Balaram /StudentArticle content

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About the reviews:

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The Redeemer Christian High School production was reviewed by 35 critics representing 13 schools. The critic discussions were mentored by teacher Anna Maria Frangione of Immaculata High School and student reviews were edited and selected for publication by teacher Serena McCauley of All Saints High School, who could see only the reviews, not the names or schools of the reviewers.

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Next review: Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School’s production of Elephant/Man.

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About the Cappies:

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The Citizen and 23 high schools are participating in the Cappies, a Washington, D.C.based program that uses high school critics to review high school theatre. The program is a unique partnership between the Ottawa Citizen, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and the Ottawa Catholic School Board. Two schools from other boards in the region and two private schools have also joined. The Cappies season culminates with an awards Gala in June graciously hosted by the National Arts Centre. Follow Canada’s Capital Cappies on Instagram @OttawaCappies.

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