Buy cheap tickets for Mamma Mia
Gary Busey's One-Man Hamlet as Performed by David Carl

Every serious actor wants to do his Hamlet. Mr. Cumberbatch is doing his right now on the big stage at the Barbican. And Oscar-nominated Gary Busey is doing his in a somewhat smaller venue in Edinburgh, channeled through the body, teeth and copious lashings of spit and sweat of his fellow Texan, David Carl.

Gary Busey’s One-Man Hamlet as Performed by David Carl, an irresistible fringe show title, condenses the tragedy’s five laborious acts into 70 batshit-crazy-hilarious minutes.

Gary Busey’s One-Man Hamlet as Performed by David Carl, an irresistible fringe show title, condenses the tragedy’s five laborious acts into 70 batshit-crazy-hilarious minutes, interrupted a time or two by some unexpectedly sensitive delivery of the Bard’s most famous soliloquies. The subtext of the show being that Busey, now 71, was once regarded great respect in Hollywood. He earned that Oscar nom as the lead in 1978’s The Buddy Holly Story, in which he did his own singing, and went on to co-star in mega-hits Lethal Weapon, The Firm, Under Siege and Independence Day.

Then came a 1988 motorcycle accident that nearly killed Busey and left him with a brain injury that led to impulsive, erratic public behavior. After 100 film and TV appearances, the only work he could get post-wreck was on commercials (playing a wackier version of himself) and on reality TV. Counseled by Dr. Drew on Celebrity Rehab (where his misfiring brain was finally explained and treated), barked at by Donald Trump on The Celebrity Apprentice and coming out the victor on Celebrity Big Brother introduced Busey to a new generation of pop culturians. But deep down, as Carl embodies him, he’s still a good actor who wants to do Hamlet his way to show the world he can.

“Some of you may be asking in your mind-heartspace, why?” says David Carl to the audience as he launches into his spot-on impression of Busey (he also played him in the long-running off-off-Broadway hit Point Break Live!). Busey answers the question himself: “To prove to you I still have the chops!”

Co-created by David Carl and Michole Biancosino (who also directs), Gary Busey’s One-Man Hamlet is a mighty tornado of words, images and explosively funny details, Hamlet-related and not. To play a dozen roles, Carl incorporates interactive video images, crudely constructed paper dolls and finger puppets (all adorned with Busey’s face, but from different points in his long career in film).

The props keep refusing to behave, tumbling off their tabletop as Carl’s Busey morphs frantically by announcing “Now I’m playing Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” or “Now I’m playing Horatio, Hamlet’s best and only friend.” Or sometimes, “Now I’m Gary Busey again.” He plays the Ghost of Hamlet’s father via video on an upstage screen, which is also where colorful Busey-isms, those acrostic definitions Busey likes to spew, pop up. And where live Busey/Hamlet has a gut-bustingly funny fistfight with a video Busey/Laertes.

As he speeds through the play, declaring entire scenes “non-essential” (if only more productions of the Bard would do that), Busey digresses into speeches from his old movies and picks up a guitar and dons horn-rimmed specs for a taste of Holly’s rockabilly hit Everyday. (In the background in scenes in the Castle at Dunsinane, chirps of crickets can be heard, a clever reminder of the name of Holly’s band.) He paraphrases a lot, too, which saves scads of time, and he tosses in non sequiturs, as when old Polonius, lecturing Hamlet with his list of do’s and don’ts, includes “always wear a helmet.”

Impressive as Carl is as he affects every tic, twitch and yip of Busey’s, he’s also remarkably good at just flat doing the Shakespeare. He speaks the speeches with the skill of a serious thesp (even if that Texas accent slips in) and blends Busey’s crazy outbursts into Hamlet’s mental breakdown. It all works, but just as it teeters too heavily toward tragic, he defaults to comedy, assuring the Prince of Denmark that “Life is like a box of chocolates.”

Just imagine what David Carl’s Gary Busey could do with King Lear.

Reviews by Elaine Liner

The Assembly Rooms

Ricky Tomlinson: Guilty My Arse

★★★★★
Pleasance Courtyard

Backstage in Biscuit Land

★★★★
theSpace @ Surgeons Hall

Plain English

★★
Zoo Southside

The Ted Bundy Project

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. We don't want your money to support a hack's bar bill at Abattoir, but if you have a pound or two spare, we really encourage you to support a good cause. If this review has either helped you discover a gem or avoid a turkey, consider doing some good that will really make a difference.

You can donate to the charity of your choice, but if you're looking for inspiration, there are three charities we really like.

Mama Biashara
Kate Copstick’s charity, Mama Biashara, works with the poorest and most marginalised people in Kenya. They give grants to set up small, sustainable businesses that bring financial independence and security. That five quid you spend on a large glass of House White? They can save someone’s life with that. And the money for a pair of Air Jordans? Will take four women and their fifteen children away from a man who is raping them and into a new life with a moneymaking business for Mum and happiness for the kids.
Donate to Mama Biashara now

Theatre MAD
The Make A Difference Trust fights HIV & AIDS one stage at a time. Their UK and International grant-making strategy is based on five criteria that raise awareness, educate, and provide care and support for the most vulnerable in society. A host of fundraising events, including Bucket Collections, Late Night Cabarets, West End Eurovision, West End Bares and A West End Christmas continue to raise funds for projects both in the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Donate to Theatre MAD now

Acting For Others
Acting for Others provides financial and emotional support to all theatre workers in times of need through the 14 member charities. During the COVID-19 crisis Acting for Others have raised over £1.7m to support theatre workers affected by the pandemic.
Donate to Acting For Others now

Performances

Location

The Blurb

Having triumphed in Celebrity Big Brother, survived Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew and battled with Meatloaf and Donald Trump, Keanu Reeves' favourite co-star now takes on his biggest challenge yet: performing all the parts in Hamlet at the Edinburgh Fringe, with songs and homemade puppets – anything could happen! Written by David Carl (after Shakespeare), co-created and directed by Michole Biancosino. Outstanding Solo Performance award winner, Fringe NY 2014. 'It's crazy hilarious' **** Critics’ Pick (Time Out NY). Mega-Top Pick (BestNewYorkComedy.com). 'So demented a concept, it actually works' (New York Post).
Buy cheap tickets for Back To The Future
Buy cheap tickets for Mamma Mia

Most Popular See More

Buy cheap tickets for Nutcracker - London Coliseum
Nutcracker - London Coliseum

From £22.00

More Info

Find Tickets

Buy cheap tickets for Stranger Things : The First Shadow
Stranger Things : The First Shadow

From £37.00

More Info

Find Tickets

Buy cheap tickets for The Pirates of Penzance
The Pirates of Penzance

From £13.00

More Info

Find Tickets

Buy cheap tickets for Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Moulin Rouge! The Musical

From £31.00

More Info

Find Tickets

Buy cheap tickets for Starlight Express
Starlight Express

From £36.00

More Info

Find Tickets

Buy cheap tickets for Mrs. Doubtfire
Mrs. Doubtfire

From £25.00

More Info

Find Tickets

Buy cheap tickets for Second Best
Buy cheap tickets for Expendable
Buy cheap tickets for Oedipus starring Rami Malek and Indira Varma
Buy cheap tickets for Mozart - Her Story
Buy cheap tickets for Play On
Buy cheap tickets for Alls Well That Ends Well
Buy cheap tickets for Marriage of Figaro
Buy cheap tickets for Les Miserables
Buy cheap tickets for Dr Strangelove
Buy cheap tickets for The Purists