BWW Reviews: Actor Shakespeare Project's PERICLES, An Opinion Changer

As someone who has studied performing arts at a school where Chekov is considered light reading and "Brechtian" is a phrase often used in day to day conversation, I hold a very unpopular view about Shakespeare. While I absolutely love reading his works, I generally do not enjoy watching them performed, unless I know the piece very well. I think it is very easy to fall into the rhythm of Shakespeare without really understanding the words being spoken or, at least, without presenting the language in a truly engaging and current way. It takes a pretty special production to fully capture my interest for the entirety of a Shakespearean work, particularly given the length of most of his plays.

The Actor Shakespeare Project's production of Pericles, performed at the Modern Theatre, is one of these special productions. One of Shakespeare's least produced pieces, Pericles tells the complicated story of a nobleman's journey from land to land, escaping murder, falling in love, losing his family, and regaining hope. On my way to the theatre, I read a quick synopsis of the piece, but was generally unprepared for the vast amount of characters, locations, and stories found in this work. That being said, at no point in the performance was I confused or lost, and never needed to resort to the character list or plot summary generously provided in the program. It was all very clear.

This production took Shakespeare's words and, without changing any of them or uprooting the piece's given time and location, created a completely relevant performance. In most Shakespearean pieces, there are large amounts of possible humor, which are often ignored; but in this production, the actors thrived in the moments of comedy. Omar Robinson, Johnnie McQuarley, and Johnny Lee Davenport, who played many different roles and could be considered somewhat of an ensemble, had such comedic timing, using subtle asides and physical reactions to emphasize all the still applicable hilarity in the text. And Jesse Hinson, who played the title role, brilliantly balanced lightness and humor, while also keeping the stakes high, which made him incredibly likable. He was endearingly silly at times, and darkly poignant at others, but was always beautifully honest in his portrayal of Pericles. The entire cast was enjoyable, all with their own moments of humor, presenting a very understandable, relevant piece.

Additionally, the production was visually captivating, while utilizing very little. The show spans decades and moves rapidly from location to location, which makes it incredibly challenging to design. The set was decorated sparsely, with swaths of fabric, barrels, and ropes, which seemed appropriate for every environment visited. Although the scenery did not change, the lighting was so specific with color and pattern that the locations were easily discernible. The lighting, along with a gorgeous soundscape, not only helped to describe the setting, but also to set the mood. The best combination of these design elements had to have been the turbulent storm while journeying home with Pericles and his family, with ropes and fabric coming from the ceiling and creating sails, flashes of lightning across a blue and green stage, and the harsh sounds of a tempest filling the theatre. It was a captivating moment.

My only critique of the piece is a minor one, commenting on the show's use of music. Shakespeare's plays are often intended to include music, and I very much appreciated the moments of which his words were put to song. However, once or twice a clearly unrelated song, with non-Shakespearean language and questionably associated lyrics, was sung, and I found myself distanced momentarily from the story. The music as a whole was very folksy and Irish sounding, which veered a bit from the intended locale of the show. It all sounded very nice, but did not seem connected to the rest of the piece.

Going into this performance, I thought I was doomed, having never read the play, and assumed I would not be able to truly appreciate the work only seeing it. As it turns out, I was very much incorrect. Not only did I enjoy this piece immensely, reveling in moments of pure hilarity as well as moving tenderness, but I have rethought my opinion on seeing Shakespeare performed. This production may very well have showed me that watching his works can be just as enjoyable as reading them, as long as the right people are presenting it.

Directed by Allyn Burrows; Scenic Designed by Dahlia Ah-Habieli; Costume Designed by Molly Trainer; Lighting Designed by Deb Sullivan; Sound Designed by Arshan Gailus; Music Directed by Brooke Hardman; Choreographed by Susan Dibbie; Vocally Coached by Annie Thompson; Masks Created by Paula Plum; Stage Managed by Katie Ailinger

CAST (in alphabetical order): Johnny Lee Davenport, Jesse Hinson, Tamara Hickey, Gabriel Kuttner, Kathryn Lynch, Johnnie McQuarley, Paula Plum, Elizabeth Rimar, Omar Robinson, Bobbie Steinbach, Michael Forden Walker

Performed by the Actor Shakespeare Project at the Modern Theatre at Suffolk University. Playing April 17-May 12. For more information, visit www.actorshakespeareproject.org.

PHOTO CREDIT: bostonglobe.com

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