Scheherazade
Written by Marisha Chamberlain
Directed by P. Tyler Nielsen
at Prop Thtr, 3502 N. Elston (map)
thru Oct 20 | tickets: $20 | more info
Check for half-price tickets
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Ambitious effort misses the mark
Realize Theatre Group presents
Scheherazade
Review by Joy Campbell
In the Persian epic tale, Scheherazade is the woman who manages to keep the king from killing her by telling stories that keep him interested enough to let her live one more day. At the end of 1,001 nights, the king has fallen in love with her and makes her his queen.
This is Realize Theatre Group’s 2012-2013 season debut, and while I applaud them for taking on such a weighty work for their first piece, the result is not particularly satisfying.
The script is challenging for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that for most of the show all action takes place in one setting and is carried by two characters. The play is structured into two scenes. In the first, the woman, Ann, (Zarinah Ali) is assaulted and imprisoned by a mentally unstable man (Corey Noble) who has been stalking her for some time. The relationship and power turnabouts that develop between these two characters require strong performances: We need to see what lies beneath Ann’s overt behavior, understand the duality of her persona’s terror and determination to survive. If this doesn’t happen, many of her actions become confusing. Likewise, her tormentor has to be psychotically menacing but at the same time real and somewhat vulnerable. It’s a lot to ask of performers, and unfortunately, the casting in this case should have been made with more seasoned actors. While there are some nice moments, the two performers don’t fully realize their characters, and fall into a repetitive delivery and pacing that leaves the scene flat.
The second part follows the rapist’s capture by police (Christian J.J. Anderson and Ben Burke). Ann and one of the male officers (Anderson) are in her apartment before going to the police station, and it is here that Ann begins to unravel. I had a harder time with this part of the script. That a police officer would be at a loss to know how to handle the situation and would allow it to get out of his control to the point where he allows Ann to interfere with evidence is completely unbelievable. That he would become emotionally engaged rather than get Ann, in her state, to the hospital immediately is also hard to swallow.
Then there is the matter of Ann’s emotional state of mind. As played, she falls quickly into a delusional breakdown and post-traumatic stress. While she has certainly been through an incredible ordeal, to have none of her former resilience come through; to have her be such a complete and utterly destroyed victim, is disappointing. Timing is again an issue: long pauses between lines make for moribund pacing that drains the scene of impact.
Realize Theatre had worthy goals in putting on this production, but they have bitten off a bigger piece than they could chew. I hope that they continue to focus on scripts that address meaningful issues, and can draw on the kind of talent that can successfully bring them to life.
Rating: ★
Scheherazade continues through October 20th at Prop Thtr, 3502 N. Elston (map), with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm. Tickets are $20, and are available by phone (773-942-2070) or online through BrownPaperTickets.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at RealizeTheatreGroup.com. (Running time: 80 minutes, includes an intermission)
Photos by Simon Floeter Photography
artists
cast
Christian J.J. Anderson (Weldon); Ben Burke (Chuck); Zarinah Ali (Ann); Corey Noble (Joe)
behind the scenes
P. Tyler Nielsen (director, set, sound design, video); Taryn Smith (stage manager); Lea Palmeno (lighting, set); Liz Kummer, Victoria Johns (fight design); Diana Marvette (asst. stage manager); Manya Palmer (marketing, public relations); Simon Floeter (photos)
12-0965
