Leading off of many shared stages that delighted Clarion theatre goers in the past, Sam Atwell and Logan Honsaker realized their graduation project, their rendition of meta-comedy classic “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead,” a play in three parts which focuses on the minor characters in the title in William Shakespeare’s legendary “Hamlet.”

Little did I expect this piece to be a brain scratcher as well as an intellectual comedy. Simply put, these guys are not for everyone; while an elementary background in Shakespeare’s work helps, you’ll mainly have to be on your toes in general to pick up every character nuance and tick that makes these caricatures go crazy.

The genius is in the writing for “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead,” but for the laughter in the audience to have been wrought, equally as knowledgeable performances were needed. Honsaker and Atwell as the title characters display their layers of confusion, bewilderment and existential dread in the lead roles exceptionally well.

Meta humor is tactfully done; sparingly throughout the play’s two-hour runtime, characters address the audience specifically, usually breaking the fourth wall for a more obvious gag. However, this is balanced perfectly with jabs at the Shakespearean formula and the melodramatic tendencies of “Hamlet” and the characters of which the cast are spoofing.

In Clarion’s rendition, more than just the execution on behalf of the actors was admiringly done. The authentic set design in the style of a tilted Shakespearean stage, costume work fitting of the era and somber lighting helped set the mood and capture viewers in a time period of storytelling long gone.

Overall, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s antics are not for those who want some mindless laughter. The play, and especially Clarion’s faithful rendition of it, are worth seeing; the themes of life and death coupled with pointed jabs at the cornerstones of our lives and stories are by no means shallow.