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Written by Rebecca LaPole, For NEXTnc
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Wednesday, 06 September 2006 |
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 Are you curious what goes on behind the curtains of a play?
Then you’re in for a treat with Ronald Harwood’s “The Dresser” opening at Bas Bleu Theater this Saturday night.
“The Dresser” is a portrait of backstage theater life; it reveals, among other things, some of the sacrifices actors make to create a seemingly glorious alternate reality.
The characters are patiently and deeply developed in this production, by a cast of veteran actors. Among them are: Jonathan Farwell as Sir, Leonard Barrett Jr. as the dresser Norman, and Wendy Ishii, as Sir’s wife.
Susan Crabtree, set designer and author of “Scenic Art for the Theatre”, crafted the authentic-looking dressing room in the play, using beautiful pieces from the World War II era. The play is set in England, circa 1942, and the sounds of air-raid sirens hover over the wartime scene.
In his 227th performance of “King Lear,” Sir is turning senile; he now needs to rely once again on Norman, his dresser of 16 years, to help him through the performance.
 “(King) Lear” is the most difficult play in the world, especially for the actor playing Lear,” Farwell said.
Varying degrees of sanity weigh heavily on the psyches of the characters. As Farwell puts it, “The audience is wondering the whole time if (the character of Sir), is kind of nuts. And is he going to make it?”
The undercurrent of the play strikes a balance between the dresser and the actor. Leonard Barrett Jr. said he, “allows the subtext (of Norman) to get through to the audience by bringing the subtlety through the comical background.”
“People are intrigued by what happens behind the scenes, and that’s what’s fun about the play. It shows what goes on from a different perspective,” said Director Laura Jones.
During part of the play, the stage is really the backstage, with actors upstage, facing away, and acting to an unseen audience.
This allows the real audience to see how the famous storm scene in King Lear is created.
“The Dresser” is, in the end, a celebration of theater, a backstage pass that comes included with price of admission.
Don’t miss it.
‘The Dresser’
• Sept. 9-Oct. 21
• Opening night 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9 with reception
• 7:30 p.m., Thursday nights, Oct. 12, 19
• 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday nights
• 2:30 p.m. Sunday matinees, Sept. 17 and 24, Oct. 1, 8 and 15
• Bas Bleu Theater, 401 Pine St. Fort Collins
• Tickets: $19, $15 seniors, $10 students
• Friday Preview – New for the 2006-2007 season, Pay- What-You-Can Preview performance. Donations accepted at the door.
• 2-For-1 Weekend – The second weekend, Sept. 15-17, has two tickets for the price of one. Call 498.8949.
• Or log on to: www.basbleu.org | |
Love the Shift
Written by galaxy19 on 2006-09-07 19:58:09
Yay! I am excited to hear about something shifting perspectives and showing the 'stormy' side of something as complex and entertaining as acting!
All things have their shadow side, and to reveal it is to gain balance.
I hope you have fun watching it, and if hope your perspective shifts positively and lovingly in whatever you learn from it!
Chao Belle
~g |
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