Hamlet’s Dresser

Bob Smith’s Hamlet’s Dresser is a very innovative approach to present his own autobiography by intertwining his current life, his early life, and life after high school.  Smith starts with his current community involvement with elder residents of NYC (many of the locations in which I have held Little League registration days), reading Shakespeare’s plays a few times a week.  The detailed descriptions of the people who look forward to Smith’s engagement made my own heart smile, knowing how I am reliant on many others like Smith to do this for my own mother as the aging process continues for her.  But beyond the readings we learn of the complex life of Smith and the barriers he and his family faced raising his sister, Carolyn, who was severely mentally challenged.  Growing up in the 1940–50s had a very different response and responsibility for families who had little to no support from our cities and states, with many suggesting the only way was to send your child to a home.  The third intersection of the story was the life Smith ran to in the theatre, so to not be subjected to his family issues.  Smith was offered the opportunity to be a “dresser” for actors at the Stratford Theatre, working with talented and well-known actors.  Readers don’t always find the “intersections” of life through characters but Smith “hits us over the head” by discussing the role he played with his sister, regularly being asked to change her clothes after she defecated on herself, hoping and praying for a change in her and then the connection of changing the clothes of actors who were becoming someone else on the stage.  Throughout the entire book Smith illustrates life’s imperfections and realities and reinforces it by adding quotes from many of Shakespeare’s pieces, thus showing that life has really never changed… human emotion, despair, and triumph are the same centuries later even though the environment is very different now from the day of Shakespeare.  Smith is an expert in knowing the passages of all Shakespeare’s plays and he seemingly has experienced the passages on stage and in real life.  The most poignant moment in the book comes when Smith faces his own demon of re-engaging with his institutionalized sister after forty years of separation.  It is one of the most moving pieces I have read in some time.  I applaud Smith for his work with the senior citizens.  Keeping the mind active and engaged is what keeps one young at heart.  Being a fan of Shakespeare made this a joy to read.  Though there were some “holes” never concluded in the book, I appreciated the ability of Smith to connect some of the dots and experiences with the stage, his family, and others along his journey.  My favorite quote from Macbeth included as well… one which we all should never forget….

To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.