Mid-season openings – a string of 4 plays, complemented by 2 others: this is the menu for these 4 days, mid-July!
I have seen the opening of “Jesus Christ Superstar”, early June, before going to Europe. Again, not being a “musical man” myself, I must admit I did enjoy! An apparently not the only one: the critics enjoyed, and so did the author of the lyrics (Tom Rice) and the composer of the music (Andrew Lloyd Weber) who both came to Stratford to see it, and where very “élogieux” in their comments. Their visit certainly spurred the rumour (now confirmed) that this production is going to Broadway (via La Jolla, McAnuff’s old stomping ground), (and then, who knows?) The reviews are certainly ecstatic – see http://stratfordfestivalreviews.com/shows-11/jesus-christ-superstar/
This is the latest production of Jesus Christ Superstar in a long string of productions, in many countries around the world, going back to the late-‘60s, early ‘70s, when it came out, first as musical album (probably among the first so-called “rock operas” – Weber’s adaptation came later on), then as a play, on Broadway, in continental Europe, and the West End. The first film version, directed by Norman Jewison, came out in 1973 – this was my first exposure to the work, as it has been for many people I imagine.
Stratford Shakespeare Festival included it in this year’s season, directed by the Festival’s Artistic Director, Des McAnuff, (he also did the original Broadway productions of Jersey Boys and Big River, and the 1993 Broadway revival of Tommy). Judas is played/sung by Josh Young, Mary Magdalene by Chilina Kennedy, Jesus by Paul Nolan, both the latter rising stars at Stratford (they did the very popular “West Side Story” together, a couple of years ago at Stratford); Pontius Pilate by Brent Carver, and Herod by the ever popular Bruce Dow.
Mid-season openings included: a wonderful Seana McKenna in “Shakespeare’s Will” (a veteran at Stratford – I have to see her as Richard the 3rd later on in the season!) – a contemporary attempt by Canadian playwright Vern Thiessen at re-habilitating the reputation of Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway. A depressing, if brilliantly rendered, “The Little Years”, a work by Canadian playwright John Mighton – this was surely written with the feminist cause in mind: the story of a woman deprived of a life as a very gifted mathematician, because in good part of all the attention dotted on her brother’s education and career in the formative years, rather than on her’s… The bloodied “Titus Andronicus” – watch out for your hands, or your head, those sitting in the front row! John Vikery as Titus is terribly credible; Claire Lautier as Tamora, the queen of the conquered and captive Goths, less…all about revenge, and certainly not “served cold” here…And “Twelfth Night”, the joyful and farcical play, with a slew of talents ranging from American TV/film star Brian Dennehy, Stratford veteran Stephen Ouimette, Tom Rooney, and rising star Ben Carlson, to name a few. Great direction – Des McAnuff’s – and great music – a collaboration between McAnuff, again, and Michael Roth, whom we had dinner with the night before.
I complemented this openings’ offering with a very invigorating “Camelot” – fascinating set and costumes (really), aside from the consumed performances by veteran Geraint Wyn Davies as Arthur, and new comers Kaylee Harwood as Guenevere and Jonathan Winsby (whose father, Sandy Winsby, is also in the play!) as Lancelot. Always enjoyable Brent Carver as well (double roles: Merlyn and Arthur’s confident King Pellinore).
And “The Grapes of Wrath”, based on Steinbeck’s famous novel, adapted to the theatre by Frank Galati (in Stratford this year to direct “Merry Wives of Windsor”). Antoni Cimolino, the General Director of the Festival, is directing it. I was privileged to hear him speak about the play in the morning, before seeing it in the afternoon; aside from his “decomposition” of the play’s production, I was struck by one thing: how “invested” he is in it – Galati’s adaptation, the history that preceded and explained the “Dust Bowl”, Steinbeck’s social commitment, all elements that Cimolino seems to have studied and absorbed so totally, so that he could lead his cast to deliver such a taking and heart-wrenching rendition of the play.
That was it for me this year, the Festival… but then, there I am, booking to see the rest of this year’s playlist: “Hosanna”, of Michel Tremblay’s fame, “The Misanthrope” de Molière (the opening, I think), “Richard III” – because the character is played by Seana McKenna, very much “a woman”! And possibly “Homecoming” – because Harold Pinter wrote it and Brian Dennehy plays in it! I will have missed “Merry Wives of Windsor”…
Stratford, July 16, 2011
