CRITIC'S CORNER

By Robert Massimi, Member Dramatists Guild and Drama League

AUDIENCE

“Audience” written by Vaclav Havel is an absurdist comedy that focuses on a time in Havel’s life when he was remanded to work at a brewery as punishment for writing critical articles about the communist Czechoslovakian government. “Audience” follows his fictional alter ego Ferdinand Vanek and his dialogue between he and the Brewmaster (Teresa Linnihan). Havel would eventually go from a prison cell to the presidential palace: from 1989 till 2003 and through the overseeing of the newly formed Czech Republic, Havel would lead his people toward democracy throughout his long presidency. With the infusion of the CAMT Marionette’s, The Bohemian Theater put forth what is billed as Havel’s funniest, most absurdist play.

In a unique staging, the audience members have two big screens to look at with four different cams covering the action. While the set and stage are ample enough to see the performance as is, the big screens add a superb affect of the puppets who are very much part of the plays essence. The two actors are deft in bringing the puppets to lifelike form from the outset.

In a right from wrong standpoint, Vanek (Vit Horejs) refuses to help the Brewmaster write weekly reports about himself which offends his boss; Vanek will stand by his principals even if it means that he will not get the cushy position running the warehouse. What appears at first is that the Brewmaster holds all the cards, however, as the play moves forward, Vanek, the man who is an acclaimed writer, a man who was once celebrated by many writers and actors has all the power and strength. The Brewmaster needs him, his drinking has turned him into a weaker boss at the brewery; he is a man who relishes in the old days when things ran better. In a feeble attempt, the Brewmaster tries psychological warfare with pointless chat, clumsy interrogations, flattery and alcohol consumption to try to make Vanek see things his way. While the two actors were very good, the Marionettes enjoyable, the story was very repetitive and at times boring. The plot is a good one, it just doesn’t have enough consistent dialogue during the 60 minute performance. Rather than the repetition of questions this play would be better served with deeper dialogue that leaves the audience with more to chew on.

TENNESEE RISING

“Tennessee Rising” is a warm play that goes through the early years of Thomas Lanier Williams (Tennessee Williams). Writer/actor Jacob Storms has Williams moving through life with such grace and ease. Williams, a Southern gentleman with all the breath and depth of a great writer; Storms captures the cadence of Williams brilliantly. Listening to Storms brought the recollection of eloquent speakers of many past performances, particularly movies such as “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” and Clay Shaw in the movie “JFK”. In Seventy minutes, Storms takes us through the early years of the man many consider to be the greatest American writer of all time; his many vast relationships with other writers, how he was inspired by the Group Theater, his relationship with his family and the many lovers that were in his lifetime. “Tennessee Rising” is as inspirational as it is informative; the show is not short of poignant and comical moments. The master of Southern Gothic writing is as common as Corn Pone and yet he forged ahead to get out from under the mayhem of having a drunk for a father and a schizophrenic for a sister. The one-man play informs us how Williams came about writing his early plays: “Rose tattoo”, “The Glass Menagerie” and “Battle of Angels”. With deft direction by Alan Cumming, “Tennessee Rising” takes the audience from Mississippi to St. Louis, The French Quarter in New Orleans, Provincetown, Boston and New York. Throughout Williams journey in his young life, Storms makes it an eventful evening at The Cell Theater/ the back patio. in a small outdoor setting, it makes us feel that we are invited into Williams’s life for a short time where he shares stories just for us. Although Storms was difficult to hear at times, the show was entertaining and informative.