by Sierra Pasquale
In this smart, self-aware, and sharp-edged production of Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead at Albany Civic Theater, the audience is treated to an evening that is as thought-provoking as it is laugh-out-loud funny. Anchored by two outstanding lead performances and brought to life with inventive set design, the show finds its strength in the spaces between comedy and tragedy,
language and silence, and fate and free will.
The heart of this production lies in the dynamic chemistry between Rosencrantz (Adam Coons) and Guildenstern (Ryan Palmer). The actors have a natural, effortless rhythm that feels more like watching two longtime friends riff in real time than scripted performance. Their verbal sparring is fast, fierce, and funny, landing Stoppard’s dense dialogue with a clarity and lightness that makes even the most philosophical passages fly. Whether flipping coins or floundering for meaning, they hold the audience in the palm of their hands. One “questioning scene” never misses a beat and never lets the humor outpace the heart.
Supporting performances are strong across the board, particularly from the ensemble playing the tragedians, who bring a chaotic and carnivalesque energy every time they step on stage. Their arrival signals a shift in tone that the production handles with grace, leaning into the absurdity without losing momentum.
Kayla LaBombard, Thom Ingram, Abigail Rose Decker, Shaya Reyes, and Sydney Davis in “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” by Tom Stoppard, directed by Ryan Gangemi, at Albany Civic TheaterPhoto by Willie David Short. 
Ryan Palmer as Guildenstern and Adam Coons as Rosenkrantz in “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” by Tom Stoppard, directed by Ryan Gangemi, at Albany Civic TheaterPhoto by Willie David Short. 
Ryan Palmer as Guildenstern and Adam Coons as Rosenkrantz in “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” by Tom Stoppard, directed by Ryan Gangemi, at Albany Civic TheaterPhoto by Willie David Short. 
Tobias Martin and Emily Crist in “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” by Tom Stoppard, directed by Ryan Gangemi, at Albany Civic TheaterPhoto by Willie David Short. 
Tobias Martin and Alex Grandin in “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” by Tom Stoppard, directed by Ryan Gangemi, at Albany Civic TheaterPhoto by Willie David Short. 
Equally worthy of praise is the cleverly constructed set (David Zwierankin). At first glance, it appears simple, but as the play unfolds, its utility becomes more and more impressive. Trap doors, and shifting walls subtly reinforce the themes of uncertainty and instability. Lighting and sound (Laura Darling, Brian Starnes) are used sparingly but purposefully, enhancing the characters’ sense of being lost in a world just slightly out of reach. The interplay between the physical and the philosophical is never heavy-handed, but always felt.
Director Ryan Gangemi finds balance. It honors the text’s intellectual edge while grounding it in character and performance. The pacing is brisk without feeling rushed, and the emotional moments, when they do arrive, land with sincerity.
In the end, this Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead succeeds because it trusts its audience to keep up while making the journey irresistibly entertaining. It’s a production that makes existentialism fun, wordplay thrilling, and death oddly delightful. Whether you come for the Shakespearean tie-in or the philosophical musings, you’ll leave talking about the two men at the center of it all and the unforgettable chemistry they share.
Albany Civic Theater presents Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard., directed by Ryan Gangemi, at the Albany Civic Theater, 235 Second Avenue, Albany, NY, 12209. May 16-June 1, 2025. Adam Coons is Rosencrantz, Ryan Palmer is Guildenstern, Sydney Davis is Leading Player, Tobias Martin is Hamlet, Emily Crist is Ophelia, Alex Grandin is Horatio, Paul Curcio is Claudius, Cecilia Gray is Gertrude, J Hunter is Polonius, Shaya Reyes is Tragedian: Blood, Abigail Rose Decker is Tragedian: Love, Kayla LaBombard is Tragedian: Rhetoric, Thom Ingram is Alfred. Assistant Directed/Costume Designed by Siobhan Shea, Sets Designed by David Zwierankin, Lighting Designed by Laura Darling, Lighting Designed by Brian Starnes, Stage Managed by Thorn Burnham.
Performances Friday and Saturday @ 7:30pm, Sunday @ 3pm. A talkback with the director and cast to follow the Sunday, May 25th performance https://www.albanycivictheater.org/