In a recent interview, Tony Award-winning director Kenny Leon revealed surprising connections between his productions of “Hamlet” and “Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch,” as both shows become available for streaming.
Despite their apparent differences – one a Shakespearean tragedy and the other a political comedy – Leon sees them as “companion pieces” that tackle similar themes of freedom, death, and human relationships. “Both plays are trying to say something to the world about the way we treat each other,” Leon explained.
Leon’s “Hamlet,” set in 2021, was deliberately contextualized within the period of COVID-19 and racial justice movements following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. The production featured Ato Blankson-Wood in the title role, presenting Hamlet’s story through the lens of a young Black man’s experience in modern America.
Meanwhile, “Purlie Victorious,” which earned Leon a Tony nomination, marks the first commercial production of Ossie Davis’s play in 62 years. Leon employed a notably quick tempo in the show, explaining that the fast pace was intended to keep audiences engaged with humanity and humor rather than getting “inside of their own heads.”
Both productions are now part of PBS’s “Broadway’s Best” lineup, making them accessible to audiences nationwide. For Leon, this broader reach is particularly meaningful: “All those people that didn’t get a chance to visit New York get a chance to see the work all across America.”
The director hopes viewers will recognize a universal message across both productions. “The universe has given us hundreds of years to get better, to get it right, to treat each other without death or destruction, hate and racism,” Leon reflected. “Let’s love on each other a little better. Let’s give freedom to all.”
