Quogue - The Hampton Theatre Company will usher in spring with Paul Rudnick's deliciously silly and often hilarious comedy, "I Hate Hamlet." In "I Hate Hamlet," a young Hollywood actor comes, with much trepidation, to New York to play Hamlet in Central Park, only to meet and, in more ways than one, cross swords with the ghost of John Barrymore. '"I Hate Hamlet" opens at the Quogue Community Hall and runs through April 3.

Joel Leffert, who starred in the HTC's production of "Moon Over Buffalo," returns to the Quogue stage as the over-the-top, irrepressible Barrymore. James Patrick Cronin, who made his debut with the company last spring in "Bedroom Farce," plays Andrew, the television actor whose series has just been cancelled. Julie McKay makes her HTC debut as Andrew's breathlessly romantic (but tragically virginal) girlfriend Dierdre. Lydia Franco-Hodges plays the passionate real estate agent Felicia. Edward Kassar plays Andrew's very LA friend Gary. Diana Marbury plays Andrew's glamorous German agent and one-time Barrymore paramour.

Edward A. Brennan, until recently the Artistic Director of Airport Playhouse, who has appeared on stage twice with the HTC, in "Frozen" and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," joins the HTC for the first time as director. The set is by James Ewing, lighting by Sebastian Paczynski and costumes by Teresa LeBrun.

"I Hate Hamlet" will be presented from March 17 through April 3 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $25 for adults, $23 for seniors (except Saturdays) and $10 for students under 21. For further information or to make reservations go to www.hamptontheatre.org, call OvationTix at 1-866-811-4111, or call the Hampton Theatre Company at 631-653-8955.