Strong cast tell fascinating story with strong parallels to today
In Playwright Lolita Chakrabarti's Red Velvet , we are taken back in time to London in 1833. That historic city, and indeed, Great Britain, are roiling in change economic, political and social. The Industrial Revolution, the broadening of voting rights to other than the landed gentry, and the abolition of slavery (most of it, anyway) has the population in turmoil. And Covent Garden, London's premiere presenter of classical theatre, is about to add to the drama (pun intended). The great actor of his time, Edmund Kean, has taken suddenly ill while playing the role of Othello, and a replacement is urgently required. Selected to fill the void is a fine actor in his own right, Ira
The cast is strong, led by Brandon Greenhouse (of fame) as Ira Aldridge, who demonstrates the emotions that engulf him from young, successful actor to the culmination of his life. At times fierce, angry, conciliatory, unaware; he maintains a masterly hold on his role and the audience as well. And there are also times when he demonstrates an innocence as related to his race within a white majority population who cannot believe the actions of others: the words written in newspapers or directed at him verbally. It's a big role to carry and Greenhouse does it with great facility. His final scene, as King Lear, speaks volumes.
The actors surrounding Greenhouse fill their roles with gusto, humor, finesse and caring. Matthew Klingler, as Pierre LaPorte, the manager of Covent Garden, at first appears as a soft spoken but firm Frenchman who is making a momentous decision yet appearing to make it an obvious one. But, as the play progresses, he becomes the power broker and the counter force to Ira Aldridge's insistence on how he is to play his role as Othello. And ultimately, La Porte must make the agonizing decision on Aldridge's career. Klingler's portrayal of a man with a desire to do the right thing yet daunted by the man he wishes to support is powerful.
Tyler Rich (as Charles Kean, the son of the esteemed actor, Edmund Kean) is properly distressed and angry, just as a very proper Englishman should be, when he finds La Porte's choice to replace his ailing father with (heavens!) a Black man. His moustache fairly curls with his heated indignation as he rails at the indignities about to be laid upon the play, the cast, Covent Garden and the whole of the British Empire as well. Horrors! He succeeds to the nth degree in making the audience abhor him.
Tuckie White as Ellen Tree, who is to play the role of Desdemona opposite Aldridge, is at first stunned by the event taking place. But as the play progresses, she wonderfully shows the conflicting thoughts coursing through her mind as she slowly becomes a willing advocate for La Porte's decision to bring Aldridge on to play the title role.
The supporting cast members do a very capable job of keeping the focus on the ongoing tension. Scott Olson, as Terrence, is equally horrified at the first news of Aldridge's hiring but underplays his ire and separates himself from the level of anger being shown by the younger Kean - a nice contrast. 's Henry Forester adds a balanced level of humor to the situation with coy but subdued grins and eye rolls. He denotes a coming of liberalism to the theater as if asking 'why not a Black man playing a man of color?' Nicely done. Sophia Menendian as Margaret Aldridge (as well as two other smaller female roles), a very solicitous wife to a very difficult man, is very convincing in her patience with a trying marriage.
In the background, noting all that's transpiring, is Connie (Anna Dauzvardis), the Jamaican serving girl, who's privy to the slurs and anger that's directed at the black interloper and aware that she, too, is being demeaned, albeit indirectly. And it is she who speaks truth to Ira about all that is going on around them and who voices those things that we still deal with to this day. Dauzvardis accomplishes this with force and intensity while never raising her voice.
Director Michael Menendian moves this historical drama in a way that keeps the audience transfixed, never losing focus on that which divided people then as it does now. The costumes, by Joelle Beranek, are equally perfect for 19th century London as well as those worn by Ira as he tours the English countryside. The sets, 3-in-1 really, aptly designed by , make excellent use of the broad stage at the Raven. Lighting by Diane D.Fairchild helps set the atmosphere scene by scene, shifting as the action requires.
continues through November 27th at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark (map), with performances Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays 3pm. Tickets are $41-$46, and are available by phone (773-338-2177) or online through OvationTix.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com ). More information at RavenTheatre.com. (Running time: 2 hours 15 minutes, includes an intermission)
Brandon Greenhouse (Ira Aldridge), Tuckie White (Ellen Tree), Matt Klingler (Pierre), (Charles Kean), Anna Dauzvardis (Connie), (Casimir, Henry), Sophia Menendian (Halina, Betty, Margaret). Scott Olson (Terrence, Bernard), Charles Askenaizer, Brandon Boler, Annie Hogan, Jeremy Pfaff, Katrinka Smith (understudies).
behind the scenes
Michael Menendian (director), (scenic design), Diane D. Fairchild (lighting design), Mary O'Dowd (properties design, set dressing), Joelle Beranek (costume design), Eric Backus (sound design), Kiley Morgan (stage manager), Kelly Hovsepian (asst. stage manager), Destiney Higgins (assistant director), Conor Clark (technical director), Kendra Thulin (dialect coach), Eileen Rozycki (scenic artist), Jessica Doyle (master electrician), Dean La Prairie (photos)
Tags: 16-1012, Anna Dauzvardis, Annie Hogan, Brandon Boler, Brandon Greenhouse, Charles Askenaizer, Chicago Theater, Conor Clark, Dean La Prairie, Destiney Higgins, Diane D. Fairchild, Duane Barnes, Eileen Rozycki, Eric Backus, Jeremy Pfaff, Jessica Doyle, Joelle Beranek, Katrinka Smith, Kelly Hovsepian, Kendra Thulin, Kiley Morgan, Lolita Chakrabarti, Mary O'Dowd, Matt Klingler, Michael Menendian, Othello, post, Raven Theatre, Ray Toler, Scott Olson, Sophia Menendian, Tim Martin, Tuckie White, Tyler Rich
Category: 2016 Reviews, Duane Barnes, Raven Theatre
