SITE GUIDE
SEARCH
REVIEWS
REVIEW ARCHIVES
ADVERTISING AT CURTAINUP
FEATURES
NEWS
Etcetera and
Short Term Listings
LISTINGS
Broadway
Off-Broadway
NYC Restaurants
BOOKS and CDs
OTHER PLACES
Berkshires
London
California
New Jersey
Connecticut
DC
Philadelphia
Elsewhere
QUOTES
On TKTS
PLAYWRIGHTS' ALBUMS
LETTERS TO EDITOR
FILM
LINKS
MISCELLANEOUS
Free Updates
Masthead
Writing for Us
A CurtainUp New Jersey Review
All's Well That Ends Well
|
My eyes smell onions — Lafew
|
John Ahlin as the King of France
(Photo:Gerry Goodstein ) |
It's possible that I've been misled by some Shakespearean scholar to thinking that All's Well That Ends Well is noted for being his most irksome and cynical play. That works fine for me. In spite of this play's lack of humor, its sullen emphasis on class distinctions, and its generally testy morality, what I saw take place under the direction of Stephen Fried is a play that quickly becomes unexpectedly effective and even striking. I believe that Fried has helped the actors transform the somewhat unsavory nature of the characters into identifiable, if not loveable types. We can also thank him for transferring the general unpleasantness of the plot into a generally accessible late Edwardian time frame.
Fried, who made his STNJ debut two years ago directing The Comedy of Errors (review) and has since amassed considerable regional credits, brings a lightness of spirit and style to a difficult but nevertheless worthy classic. Bothersome as the plot is, he seems to be assuring us at every turn that this absurd story of a young, common girl in love with a wealthy and titled nobleman is an intriguing and even slightly risqué romp.
There is firstly a good-looking young actor Clifton Duncan in the role of the spoiled and snobby Bertram, the Count of Rossillion. In this, his first season with STNJ, Duncan doesn't get the opportunity to do more than look bewildered and to be charmingly condescending. But he does it so well that we look forward to seeing him in the future play a character with more spine.
One has to work hard to care much for the shrewdly engineered machinations of the spunky Helena, as played by a very pretty Ellen Adair (also in her first season.) Perhaps because of the detached nonchalance placed on the play's idiotic and implausible plot contrivances, it almost doesn't seem to matter whether or not she succeeds in her impassioned pursuit of Bertram. He's basically a self-centered fool who decides to deserts her and goes off to fight in a foreign war rather than take her to bed. Izzie Steele makes a good impression particularly as she succeeds in exasperating the King of France with her incomprehensible, riddle-soaked explanation of the convoluted events that lead to the play's conclusion.
I'm happy to report that John Ahlin not only rules France as its blustery king but also rules the stage in his other role as the tongue-rolling, eyes-bugging, clownishly posturing Lavatch, the devoted servant to the Countess. This play easily accommodates another clown in the person of Clark Carmichael as the incorrigibly duplicitous Parroles, one of Bertrand's followers. As the smarts are in short supply, it is a pleasure to watch Robin Chadwick look about and consider the pitifully few options and the abounding obstacles he has to contend with in his role as Lafew, the old lord and trusty friend of the Countess.
Tamara Tunie, a familiar face at STNJ, but more famously known for her roles on many different TV series, seems to be having a good time appearing in three roles: As Bertram's mother The Countess of Rossillion, as counselor to the king, and as the Widow Capileta. In each, she shows us a respectable and variable personality. The director's conceit, possibly budgetary as well, to let principal actors double in more than one important role works very well.
Scenic Designer Bill Clark and lighting designer Tony Galaska have collaborated to evoke without fuss but plenty of flair, a country home, a chandeliered Parisian ballroom, the King's court, and the grassy fields of Florence. Except for the regiment's khaki uniforms, the costumes by Emily Pepper are notable for their varied tones of gray, black and beige. If you can accept the conceit of having a King of France during the late Edwardian period, you can also accept Shakespeare' dubious contention that All's Well That Ends Well.
|
All's Well That Ends Well By William Shakespeare Directed by Stephen Fried Cast: Ellen Adair (Helena), Clifton Duncan (Bertram), Clark Carmichael (Parolles), Tamara Tunie (The Countess of rossillion, a counselor to the king, The Widow Capilet), John Ahlin (Lavatch, The King of France), Izzie Steele (Rinalda, Diana), John Barker, Brian Cade (servants) Scenic Designer: Bill Clark Costume Designer: Emily Pepper Lighting Designer: Tony Galaska Sound Designer: Karin Graybash Running Time: 2 hours 35 minutes including intermission The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, F. M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, located on the campus of Drew University, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ. (212) 973/ 408 - 5600 Tickets ($31 - $54) Performances Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m. (except this Saturday, at 7:30 p.m.), Sundays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Preview began 09/15 Opened 09/18/10 Ends 10/10/10 Review by Simon Saltzman based on performance 09/18/10 |
|
Subscribe to our FREE email updates with a note from editor Elyse Sommer about additions to the website -- with main page hot links to the latest features posted at our numerous locations. To subscribe,
E-mail: esommer@curtainup.comesommer@curtainup.com put SUBSCRIBE CURTAINUP EMAIL UPDATE in the subject line and your full name and email address in the body of the message -- if you can spare a minute, tell us how you came to CurtainUp and from what part of the country. Visit Curtainup's Blog Annex For a feed to reviews and features as they are posted add http://curtainupnewlinks.blogspot.com to your reader You can also contact us at Curtainup at Facebook . . . Curtainup at Twitter |
|
REVIEW FEEDBACK Highlight one of the responses below and click "copy" or"CTRL+C"
Paste the highlighted text into the subject line (CTRL+ V): >Feel free to add detailed comments in the body of the email and state if you'd like your comments published in our letters section. . .also the names and emails of any friends to whom you'd like us to forward a copy of this review. You can also contact us at Curtainup at Facebook or Curtainup at Twitter and Curtainup's Blog Annex |
South Pacific
In the Heights
Playbill Broadway Yearbook
