GUEST REVIEW: A more understandable, funny PERICLES delights audience at the Chester Theater Group
By Jane Primerano
Many of Shakespeare’s plays are complicated, but Pericles may just be the most convoluted of all of them. Or, perhaps, it is presented less often than A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The Chester Theater Group chose an interesting way to combat the complexity in their production of Pericles at the Black River Playhouse. Opening on Friday, June 20, it runs through July 6.
The play travels from Antioch to Tyre to Tarsus and variously around the Mediterranean. CTG does some shifting of the time frame, to make some ancient recreations much more contemporary. Rather than confusing the issue, the tactic makes the play more understandable. And very funny in parts.
The plot of Pericles sends the Prince of Tyre (later the king, played by Doug McLaughlin) around the Mediterranean after he figures out a riddle and flees from an incestuous king (Andrew Parks). At times he is chased by an accidental and occasionally reluctant assassin. All of the killers in Pericles are amateurs and quite incompetent, but quite comical. One is reminiscent of Mr. Greenjeans.
Costumes for the most part remain ancient, and the scenery is simple, as it always in the tiny theater-in-the-round. Since the impact of Shakespeare is in the acting and the dialogue, those considerations are less important than they are in other productions.
The acting was excellent, as always with CTG. Some of the quirks were priceless, like the brothel proprietors sounding like they were from Fort Smith, Ark. And the mystic Cerimon attempting a miracle with a peanut gallery of assistants is priceless.
To single out any of the cast may not be fair, but Spencer Scalamoni as the punk-rock assistant to the Madam is a cross between The Fonz and a Lost Boy. Like all of the actors, he plays multiple roles, but that is the one he was born to play.
Allegra Mroz as the goddess Diana manages to be elegant and smooth while giving the impression she really cares about the mere mortals.
The understated but strong performance of Nick Foil as Lysimachus is a true standout.
I can’t wait to see young Arden Henley, who played quite varied roles, again in local theatre before he makes the big time.
The only disappointment was the sparse audience. I’m used to a packed house at CTG and hope that is the case for the rest of the run.
The remaining performances are Friday, June 27, and Saturdays, June 28 and July 5, all at 8 p.m. and Sundays, June 29 and July 6 at 2 p.m. You can purchase tickets HERE.