Pericles!!
You can’t tell the players without a program..
Please! Go see this ‘translation’ of Shakespeare’s Pericles.. Read the program and follow the trail of a guy on the run with a little Tempest Tossed and a pinch of Magic and then.. Pay attention!
Here’s what happens:
The Boston Court is under a thunder cloud. We hear the maelstrom as we wait for the curtain. Then, the back door of the stage opens with a mixed bag of drenched refugees vying for the assembled cots to wait out the storm. Cell phones are not working. Things happen.. Then. to light the gym because the power's gone out, one intensee electric lantern that for the first ten minutes of the show shone directly into eyes of the audience was blinding. Just a glitch but hopefully the tech aspect of the show will find a way to fix it
A disparate crew has come in and .. and..
Thank goodness for our narrator: Gower! Miguel Perez is the mordant that solidifies this ambitious romp on stage at Pasadena’s Boston Court Theatre.
One thing for sure, Boston Court has taken pains to push the envelope of creativity for small theatre in Southern California. Pericles is a stretch that crackles louder than the person behind me with a bag of chips! Factor in an excellent ensemble cast and Margaret Shigeko Starbuck’s deft direction to bring to life the twists and turns of happenstance and coincidence thrusting Prince Pericles story upon us.
“Translator”, Ellen McLaughlin’s ‘reworking’ of Shakespeare’s Pericles may bring a quibble from purists. I think of Marcel Duchamp who sparked trouble in the art world by .. among other things.. drawing a mustache on post card featuring the Mona Lisa…
We hear Shakespeare with new ears and the beauty of this production is that we see it with new eyes. It’s a trip.
As one of the Bard’s lesser known dramas (to me, anyway) what McLaughlin has done.. we are gven to understand.. is to make the ’sound’ of the language more agreeable to the modern ear and give the actors fewer tongue twisters. Indeed the ‘feeling’ of the original text ..ie. the movement of the plot is still here. The challenges of the passage of time and numerous location changes are all pretty much explained with Gower’s narration.
I would suggest a more casual approach with the couplets. It’s an artistic choice.
An odd shift occurs with the introduction of Pander (Adam J. Smith), Bolt (Rio Rasch) and the Bawd (Julanne Chidi Hill) who seem to converse in more ‘modern’ English. The Bard gifted the groundlings with the clowns and this crew is delightfuly broad.
But, I get ahead of myself..
Pericles (Radolph Thompson) has gotten himself in hot water foolishly trying to solve an insoluble riddle to win the hand of the daughter of the not so nice King Antiochus. Failing, Pericles opts to set sail.. and here in lies the tale.
Michele Joo’s set assisted by You Chen Zhang presents a high school gymnasium laid out for refugees from the storm. At rise, it is over crowded by a diverse bunch of locals now evacuated because of the storm. What makes this show a good one is the tight ensemble. Read a synopsis to stay on track. The lobby video shows Pericles journeys in animation and the program pretty much spells out the steps and ..spoiler alert.. the happy ending.
What McLaughlin and director Margaret Shigeko Starbuck have done in this West Coast Premiere, according to notes, is to find ways to pull the plot together. It needs it.. and yes.. Gower is the guy. Thank you!
Research posits that Shakespere may have co-written the play with George Wilkins. Pericles was not included in the First Folio. “Tempest Tossed..” may be the only memorable line?
Simply put, Poor old Pericles has some real troubles: ship wrecks; disappointments and sadness and crap thrust upon him. Diverse casting works for this show that meets the challenge of a laundry list of characters covered by ten fine actors. It’s funny. It’s over the top. It’s got some terrific movement and action! Jousts!
Sundry locations and beautufilly staged roiling seas eventually bring us back to Gower and his poetic summation.It is not the Queen's Shakspeare! But, it IS a romp worthy of a hip and happening audience.
I would ask the show to consider a tambourine and please fix that lantern in our eyes! Then. everyone?
Buckle your seat belts for full houses.
Support new ideas and come to Boston Court early for free on-sight parking.
Percles by William Shakespeare translated by Ellen MacLaughlin
Boston Court Theatre
70 Mentor Avenue
Pasadena, California 91105
Tickets and information:
https://bostoncourtpasadena.org/events/pericles/
CAST:
Randolph Thompson as Pericles
Miguel Perez as Gower
Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson as Marina
Nicole Javier as Thaisa
Julanne Chidi Hill as Helicanus/Bawd
Desirée Mee Jung as Dionyza/Cerimon
Adam J. Smith as Cleon/Pander
Alexander Matos as Lysimachus & Others
Jamie Gallo as Thaliard/Leonine & Others
Rio Rasch as Bolt & Others
THE CREATIVE TEAM
Margaret Shigeko Starbuck – Director
Ellen McLaughlin – Playwright
Michelle Joo – Set Designer
Nala Zinngrabe – Costume Designer
Pablo Santiago – Lighting Designer
John Ballinger – Sound Designer, Composer, & Music Director
Rye Mandel – Props Designer
Estela Garcia – Movement Director
Nicole Arbusto – Casting Director
Yaesol Jeong – Stage Manager
Grace Wilkerson – Assistant Director
You Chen Zhang – Associate Set Designer
Jennifer Gonzalez – Associate Lighting Designer
Jaclyn Gehringer – Assistant Stage Manager/Workshop SM
Jenny Cohn Press Relations
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