BWW Reviews: KING ARTHUR at Synetic Theater

I recall my first visit to the Helen Hayes Awards a couple of years ago. It's a truly fun evening if you were ever thinking of attending.

What caught my eye was the fact that some unknown theater kept winning award after award. Accepting these awards were two individuals named Tsikurishvili, one was Paata and one was Irina. The crowd went berserk when their names were called.

The next year I attended the same thing happened.  I was getting the impression that I was certainly missing out on something very special.  After the Awards, I went up to Paata and said, "One day I have to see what this is all about." I promised him.

I can now finally say I kept my promise. And let me tell you what I saw. The name of the company is Synetic Theater. The name comes from the word synthesis (the coming together of distinct elements to form a whole) and kinetic (pertaining to, or imparting motion, active...dynamic). Thus the name Synetic Theater, a dynamic synthesis of the arts. And is it ever DYNAMIC!!

Their creed is outlined in their program. "Fusing a myriad of theatrical elements - movement and text, poetry and dance, music and drama - we create a revolutionary synthesis of the theatrical arts. Drawing on various artistic traditions from around the world, we strive to invigorate, and challenge our audiences' perception of theater, storytelling, and their own lives."

And did I pick the right show to introduce me to what they call "physical theater".

Synetic Theater began in 2001 by the husband and wife team of Paata and Irina Tsikurishvili who hail from the Republic of Georgia. During those first 9 years they traveled like gypsies to venues all over the greater Washington, DC area. Until now where they finally have established a home in the former space used by the  Arena Stage in Crystal City while they awaited the renovation of their home in DC.  It looks like a converted movie theater in the basement of a building adjacent to the Marriott Reagan Airport Hotel.

To open their new home, the decision was made to perform the story of King Arthur and to add to the excitement, why not stage the performance in ankle deep water.  And it is COLD water. After the show, I walked to the front of the theater to check its temperature.  What were they thinking??

When I heard of the concept,  I recalled the 2002 Mary Zimmerman water-logged production of Metamorphosis at the Circle in the Square Theater in New York where there was an actual swimming pool in the middle of the stage. That was really something.

But, that production had spoken dialogue. That production was not entirely in a pool of water.

That's correct. Synetic Theater's modus operandi is physical or movement theater without the use of spoken dialogue. They tell a story just as a ballet tells a story without words. But while ballet is all dance and music, Synetic is "physical" theater where, as in King Arthur, there are battles with sword fights.

Let me just say it is a remarkable experience to watch the story unfold by a group of incredibly talented actors who must act and dance and fight all in ankle deep water. It is a sight not to be missed.

Does it work? I'm sure for the uninitiated that is the often-asked question. The answer is an emphatic YES!!!

I'm not going to retell the King Arthur tale for it is widely known. Remember Camelot? Do you recall the Sword in the Stone? Do you remember the Knights of the Round Table? Do you remember Guinevere falling in love with Lancelot? How about the evil sorceress Morgan le Fay, the corrupt Mordred and the magical Merlin. It's like the spaghetti sauce Prego. "It's all in there!"

Worth the price of admission is the wedding party of King Arthur and Guinevere when the wedding guests perform a la the huge Irish extravaganza Riverdance. But they do it in WATER, splashing the audience who don rain gear since their seats are in the "Splash Zone". What a sight. The audience went nuts. (These seats by the way are discounted.)

The spectacle features a terrific score. The wonderful original music is penned by Konstantine Lortkipanidze.

Adding to the success of this unusual  endeavor is terrific and clever set design by Anastasia Rurikov Simes whose inventive rocks and boulders become the famous "Round Table" of King Arthur. Simes is also credited with the clever costumes. The superb lighting is by Andrew Griffin (who uses flashlights to great effect) and the dynamic sound is by Irakli Kavsadze.  I'm leaving the incredible choreography to the end. What inventive movement by Irina Tsikurishvili. Irina, is their room on your mantel for another Hayes Award?

And the cast. Ben Cunis, who also assisted in the adaptation with Paata  Tsikurishvili, is superb in the leading role.  Lancelot is always a tough part and Tsikurishvilis' son Vato is up to the task, what a performance.  Brynn Tucker is striking in her role of Guinevere. Alex Mills excels as Merlin.  Jodi Niehoff is the enchantress Morgan le Fay. The evil Mordred is played by the very young Sean Pedersen.

Rounding out the marvelous cast are Kathryn Elizabeth Kelly, Peter Pereyra, Hector Reynoso, Thomas Christopher Matthews, JR Russ, JB Tadena, Dallas Tolentino, Ryan Tumulty, and Matthew Ward. The three understudies are Greg Anderson, Irina Koval, and Domingo Quezada.

After the opening night performance, Mr. and Mrs. Tsikurishvili rolled up their pants and splashed their way to center stage to thunderous applause. Earlier, they thanked Arena Stage for donating a lot of their equipment. It was an evening to remember.

The evening is a quick intermission less 90 minutes and it runs until Oct. 31. Call 800-494-8497 or visit http://www.synetictheater.org.

On September 23, 2010, the American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards, announced Synetic Theater as one of 10 theater companies awarded the new 2010 National Theatre Company Grant. The theater hopes the award will build an awareness of its unique brand of theater at the national level and enable its touring program to expand.

For comments, write to cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.

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