ANTIGONE.. At Antaeus in Glen dale

ANTIGONE

Ann Noble, Peter Mendoza, John Apicella and Kaci Hamilton (Photo by Craig Schwartz Photography)

 

Written by: Sophokles (nee Sophocles)

Newly translated and adapted by: Kenneth Cavander   Directed by Andy Wolk: ANTIGONE  continues to appreciative audiences at Antaeus Theatre Company in Glendale, California. 

Seventy eight seats of eighty filled for  a Sunday Matinee in the shamk of a run counts for something. Word of mouth or patrons who subscribe are in  the house. Do good reviews help?

As I have been  recently eliminated from the Antaeus Theatre Invited Critic's List, I came to the matinee with a bit of an attitude.  

Suffice it to say that Kenneth Cavander must have created Kreon's wife,  Euridike,  with Ann Noble in mind.  A brilliant move. Eurdike takes on a lion's share of the information traditionally shared by The Chorus. Noble commands stage with fluid moves and is obviously the power behind the throne.

Diversity casting is often a problem for me as the adjustment to see siblings and others played  by various ethnicities is a situation that works.. but it's an effort.Antaeus has often led the move to forget the need for a single ethnicity to create characters in many of their productions. By the time everyone is introduced, they usually do become simply the characteers in the play.

In Cavender's adaptation / translation of this bloody story, the polemic of how power corrupts  is spelled out in no uncertain terms. We are still at Thebes but Kreon (Tony Amendola) instead of king presents  a military strong man. He  literally steps through the fourth wall to glad hand the audience.   One blatant "remark" is on the stage left wall .. a dripping yellow stain that sure looks like a map of the good old USA.

The argument in this version of the story turns   on Antigone's (Linda Park) placing  the respectful burial of her brother based on the laws not of the 'gods' but of Moral Responsibility that may be essentially the same thing. It is above Kreon's..  'man's law' that Kreon metes out at his own pleasure.. and eventual demise.

We finds some humor with The Sentry (John Apicella) and  his side kick (Kaci Hamilton)   who lighten the heavy drama now and then.We meet Hamilton again as Teiresias  shaking the stage with bad juju.

Director Andy Wolk's staging smoothly engages the story to flow from the palace to a jail cell and other locales  as well. 

Someimes the acting shows and for purists, this version may be appreciated by abandoning the stiff and sticky way that the Greeks laid out a story.   It's modern and .. thankfully, coms in  in one  ninety minute act.

I'm still not a fan of curtain speeches, but Artistic Director , Nike Doukas, is charming regardless of my bias.  The set is okay. The lights and some special effects are fine.  On the heels of the last Antaeus production of ALL MY SONS, this is  another polemic for these rocky times our world faces.  

What is Justice, anyway? Who doles it out? When is fair fair or the 'law' is bound by itself regardless of what the quality of mercy must bring?

In the original script The Chorus speaks for Sophocled thus  of a leader:  " If he treats his country’s laws with due respect
and honours justice by swearing on the gods,he wins high honours in his city.         But when he grows bold and turns to          evil, then he has no city. A man like that—
let him not share my home or know my mind."

If you know the story of Antigone and then come to see this vbersion and tell a friend? Tell them that I sent you! 

Michael Sheehan

onstagelosangeles

PREDICTIONS FROM ANW: EXIT THE KING?

Eugene Ionesco, along with a handful of other absurdist playwrights sought to take theatre to a strange place.  Along with Beckett and Pirandello and others, the challenge to the audience was to allow the fragments to cling to a faint story line:  let the chips fall where they may.

With ANW's RICHARD III  followed by DEATH OF A SALESMAN,  the choice to present EXIT THE KING  seems in order. It is time for Theatre to bring to the fore the Truth of Art. There's a mirror held up in this show.

From the absolute power of King Richard, to poor Willy Loman  being overcome by 'circumstances of the times/'  and now to this comic finale?  It's a strong comment and a beauty of a production.  400 year old King Berenger (limber Henri Lubatti) is crumbling along with his mess of a  kingdom.  The argument of the text, which may be prescient... these over sixty years since. the play first appeared?  

Ionesco lays it all out for us and then we observe as Berenger's retinue  brings to life the blatant truth: The king will die. 

KT Vogt, Lynn Robert Berg, Henri Lubatti, Joy DeMichelle, Ralph Cole Jr. and Erika Soto Photo by Craig Schwartz

 I was explaining the plot to a movie actor pal who was vague about his early theatre history.  He said, "Just like today?"  And, I said Ionesco's 'today' was over sixty years ago.

Tesshi Nakagawa's set is simple. I wish the crumbling had been more physical, but the suggestion of decay works fine. Jared A Sayeg's lights with Angela Balogh Calin's wondrful costumes set the scene.   The cotton candy puffs of Queen Marie's (Erika Soto) gown are hilarious.  Marie is the junior queen and is crazy in love with Berenger to the point of hysteria.. It all works.  Broadly.

Highly royal elder Queen Marguerite (Joy DeMichelle) gives the spoiler alert that was already spoiled by the title. "You're going to die at the end of this show!" The stern contrast of Marguerite's stiff and formal approach builds to a touching climax. Marguerite is the backbone of the King and the play. Elegant. 

Director Michael Michetti's smooth movements; bring each of these odd characters to life, nicely finding humor and touches of the Clown Show that is predicted in the pre-show music. As Juliette (KT Vogt) bustles wearing a couple of different "hats" but always the hard pressed servant: really bustles.  As the Guard, imposing Lynn Robert Berg announces and serves. 

His hair precedes spot-on Ralph Cole Jr as the Dorctor ..also other characters, but the same guy with  the hair.. 

The beauty of this cast and this very old play is that Michetti has guided them into a tight ensemble with broad physicality..The stage is a thrust that shares equal access with the entire audience. 

It's  a lot of  talk as Berenger dissolves into his final moments. The denouement  orchestrated by Queen Marguerite is touching and gives Berenger a tender  send off.. It may be more than he deserves? 

EXIT THE KING is  a tight professional production that should be experienced. And!! it must be talked about. Ionesco's goal was to attempt to teach those of us who may die to have a bit of a handle on it. Let stuff go. Love one another? 

 

CAST

King Berenger the First: Henri Lubatti*
Queen Marguerite: Joy DeMichelle*
Queen Marie: Erika Soto*
The Doctor: Ralph Cole Jr *
Juliette: KT Vogt*
The Guard: Lynn Robert Berg

PRODUCTION
Artistic Directors: Julia Rodriguez-Elliott and Geoff Elliott
Director Michael Michetti §
Assistant Director Marco Rivera
Stage Manager Hope Matthews*
Assistant Stage Manager Morgan McDonald
Scenic Designer: Tesshi Nakagawa
Costume Designer Angela Balogh Calin†
Lighting Designer Jared A Sayeg†
Sound Designer Jeff Gardner†
Wig Designer & Make-up Tony Valdés
Resident Dramaturg Miranda Johnson-Haddad
Properties Designer/Technical Coordinator Stephen Taylor
Master Carpenter Rochelle Concepcion
Assistant Scenic Designer/Charge Artist Angelene Storey
Production Manager Juli Figueroa-Castro
Casting Director/Artist Relations Alison Rodriguez
Co-Master Electrician Hailey McDill
Co-Master Electrician Alejandra Vera
Costume Shop Manager Courtney Park
Costume Shop Assistant Erin McComb
Light Board Op Sam Campbell
Deck Crew Elizabeth Ramos Perez
Audio Engineer (A1) Chloe Pate
Backstage Audio Assistant (A2) Alex Reyes
Clowning Consultant Matt Walker
UNDERSTUDIES
The Guard: Richardson Cisneros Jones*, The Doctor: Shawn Law*,
Queen Marguerite: Aisha Kabia *, Queen Marie: Paige  Collins*

 

WHO:
• Written by Eugène Ionesco
• Translated by Donald Watson
• Directed by Michael Michetti
• Starring Lynn Robert Berg, Ralph Cole Jr., Joy DeMichelle, Henri Lubatti, Erika Soto, KT Vogt
• Presented by A Noise Within, Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, producing artistic directors

WHEN:
May 3 – May 31
Previews May 3 – May 8:
• Sunday at 2 p.m. / Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Performances May 9 – May 31:
• Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7: 30 p.m. / Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. (no Saturday matinee on May 9)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
• A one-hour INsiders Discussion Group will take place prior to the matinee on Sunday, May 10 beginning at 12:30 p.m.
• Post-performance conversations with the artists every Friday (except the preview) and Sunday, May 17.
• Student matinees are scheduled on select weekdays at 10:30 a.m. Interested educators should email education@anoisewithin.org.

WHERE:
A Noise Within
3352 E Foothill Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91107

TICKETS:
• Tickets start at $41.75 (including fees)
• Student tickets start at $20
• Wednesday, May 6 and Thursday, May 7 (previews): Pay What You Choose starting at $10 (available online beginning the Monday prior to that performance)
• Discounts available for groups of 10 or more

HOW:
anoisewithin.org
(626) 356-3100

 

CHANGES AT THE FOUNTAIN.. THEATRE

 CHANGE..  

SPARE CHANGE. 

CHANGE THE CHANNEL 

CHANGE THE DIAPER 

CHANGE ? 

GOT ANY CHANGE, MISTER? CHANGE YOUR MIND,  IT'S GOOD FOR YOU SAYS HOWARD RUGG..... 

CHANGE COURSE? 

CHANGE?

 With the departure of Stephen Sachs from the Fountain Theeatre and the passsing of  another of the founders, dear Deborah Lawlor.. word quickly spreads that Simon Levy, the last of the origijnal three major innovators for Theatre in Los Angeles  via The Fountain is changing course.. Darn it.. A change of direction..   

I have to admit that I don't deal with change well.  I get comfortable and like the feeling of sameness. 

That's on me, of course and  as I know and very much appreciate the work that these three wonderful folks have shared with Los Angeles for many years, I see the value in taking a step away. 

Simon.. stolen from  Facebook

Simon Levy is a pal. ..  I have reviewed the plays he's produced and directed over so many years that I can't count them all.

 

The Fountain Theatre is a gift that takes chances and presumably undeer the Artistic Director Raymound O. Caldwell, will forge on with the stuff that Theatre is suppposed to do:  Enlighten, Inform and Entertain.  Olé!!

This is a brief tribute to Simon Levy.

His leadership and dedication to the Art of Theatre is unique in that he has balanced ideas that have been vital to the education and enlightenment  of not only regular patrons.. but to the community with programs that bring folks together with the involvement of the City of Los Angeles. What else??  The Fountain has gifted the world with shows off to the West End and to New York because they mattered.

 Stay tuned for information regarding the next steps for The Fountain, remembering Bette Davis's advice that to get anywhere in Hollywood? "Take Fountain!  

Happy Trails to you, Simon.

Please stay in touch.

Michael Sheehan 

for onstagelosangeles

May the 4th Be With You! 

2026