Review: Synchronicity Theatre's ANNE BOLEYN Brings New Life to an Infamous Queen

"The great thing about not remembering history is that I won't know the ending!"

Though the above quote was said to me in jest, a slightly more cultured version of that might not be far from the truth for many patrons prior to Synchronicity Theatre's Southeastern Regional Premiere of Anne BoleyN. (Shout-out to dramaturg Kathy Janich for helping us out through her lobby display detailing a brief history of each character)

With a tiny black box space, this hole-in-the-wall theatre is easy to overlook, but the same cannot be said for the magnitude of its production, directed by Richard Garner. From the start, we all know that no matter what mysteries of history might be unveiled, it's probably going to end with Anne getting beheaded (sorry y'all- maybe I should have prefaced this with "spoiler alert").

It opens with Anne Boleyn herself (Brooke Owens) addressing the audience and proudly pulling a severed head- identified as her own- out of a carpet bag to show everyone. The scene shifts to show King James I (played by Brian Hatch) who has a new fascination with Anne Boleyn, which spurs a flashback to her life in court. Showing England's religious struggles in both Anne Boleyn and King James' time, the concept communicated by playwright Howard Brenton is best summed up by this quote from King James, "Nothing can tear a country apart like religion."

Playwright Howard Brenton presents a revised version of Anne unlike history's typical characterization of her. But in humanizing the Anne we know, he does not try to change the reality of a woman's position in 16th century England or the risk that comes with stridently speaking her mind. Rather, Brenton's Anne Boleyn primarily stays true to her own beliefs and desires, and going against the grain just happens to be a part of that. Brenton even brings humanity to King Henry VIII as he presents Henry and Anne as truly being in love rather than Anne merely being a vessel to bear an heir to the throne.

The scenic design (by Barrett Doyle) features a grand hall of a castle with a slanted perspective making it appear large in the theatre's confined space. This combined with authentic-looking costumes, the mood of the time is instantly set. Oh, and did you notice how they recreated the "B" necklace that Anne was famously painted wearing? This speaks to the extreme attention to detail the creative team gives to the costumes (designed by Abby Parker and Susan Carter) and props (designed by Elisabeth Cooper).

In the title role, Brooke Owens brings a new youthful, feminine side of Anne Boleyn not usually associated with the infamous second wife of Henry VIII. She commands the stage through her simultaneously obstinate and completely lovable presence that endears her to the audience from the moment she enters.

Brian Hatch is a force to be reckoned with as he portrays both King James and King Henry. Is the message here that royalty never really changed in England? Same song, second verse? Honestly, no matter the reason, I think we were all completely ok with twice as much Hatch. As King James, one moment he flails about like a child and unexpectedly snaps to become sinister at the drop of a hat, and the next, he assumes a starkly contrastingly rigid posture as King Henry. In the former, the supporting cast brilliantly serve as the straight men to his flamboyant movement vocabulary. I couldn't help thinking, "How is he still going?" as Hatch carried the show on his back.

As might be par for the course with historical dramas, there were definitely moments that left me confused, but with costumes and sets so beautiful and actors such a joy to watch, who cares about the little historical details?

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Synchronicity Theatre's 2016-2017 season kicks off September 23 - October 16 with the regional premiere of Howard Brenton's Anne Boleyn, a fun and fresh account of the downfall of King Henry VIII's ambitious second wife, Anne Boleyn.

The play is a revisionist history of Anne Boleyn's marriage to King Henry VIII and is set in London during two time periods - the Court of King Henry VIII (1527-1536) and the Court of King James 1 (1603-1604). The playwright, Howard Brenton, recasts Anne Boleyn as a devout Protestant whose royal ambitions are fueled by a desire for reformation as well as romance. Anne's perspective is central in the play, and she finally gets a chance to tell her side of the story. This will be only the second time the play has been produced in the United States.

Show times are 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 5 p.m. All performances will be at Synchronicity Theatre, in Midtown Atlanta's Peachtree Pointe complex. For tickets or more information on Synchronicity Theatre, programming and events, visit www.synchrotheatre.com or call 404-484-8636. Single ticket prices range from $15 to $50. Season ticket packages range from $25 to $250, and are available online at www.synchrotheatre.com.

Follow Sally Henry on Twitter @bwayginger for more Atlanta theatre adventures.

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