This Fierce ‘Hamlet’ Rises to a Challenge

The only saving grace in Joanne Linville’s otherwise excruciating staging of “Hamlet” at the Lillian Theatre is Christopher Thornton’s performance in the title role. The youthfully engaging Thornton, who looks like a barely post-adolescent Robbie Benson, would be more ideally cast as Romeo than the Dane. However, Thornton possesses an intensity and professionalism that would otherwise be woefully absent from these proceedings.

Thornton, a disabled actor who performs in a wheelchair, whirls up and down the ramps of Jordanna Fineberg’s stark set with dazzling dexterity and poise. Thornton is not a definitive Hamlet--his extreme youthfulness and lightly timbered voice work against him--but he is occasionally inspired. Between parries in the deadly final duel, Thornton reaches down and plants his legs on his wheelchair’s footrests, like a fencer confidently assuming his stance. It’s a courageous gesture, delivered with a fierce twinkle by this young performer.

But Thornton’s most manful efforts are doomed. Thornton tries to carry this stalled production all by himself, but he is hemmed in at every turn by prosaic performances and halting direction. It’s a Sisyphean labor, ultimately painful to watch.

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* “Hamlet,” Lillian Theatre, 1076 Lillian Way, Hollywood. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m. Ends Feb. 20. $15. (310) 289-2999. Running time: 3 hours, 45 minutes.