THEATRE REVIEW:
KPBS
AIRDATE: August 27, 2004
Director
Darko Tresnjak has an uncontrollable attraction to "bruised
beauties." That's what he calls the neglected literary wallflowers he
loves to tease into the dramatic dance. Fresh from a well-received production
in New York's Central Park, Tresnjak has brought to the Old Globe a
lesser-known, rarely-produced Shakespearean tragicomedy, "The Two Noble
Kinsmen." Written in 1613, just three years before the Bard's death, the
play was attributed to "the memorable worthies of their time, Mr. John
Fletcher and Mr. William Shakespeare, Gent." How much that Gent
contributed is still hotly debated, though most concede that the 'lesser
writer,' the prolific Fletcher, probably wrote about 60% of the play. It was
the last piece of writing from the Bard, and it features the convoluted
plotlines of a Shakespeare comedy-romance, but it's much darker, ending on a
decidedly bittersweet note -- with both a marriage and a death. It also has, a
la "Hamlet," a young woman who goes mad from unrequited love. It's
been seen as the bleak parallel universe of the sunny "Midsummer Night's
Dream." Both are based on "The Knight's Tale," the first story
from Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales,' and both begin with the wedding of the
Athenian Duke, Theseus, to the Amazon warrior, Hippolyta. The kinsmen of the
title are Theban cousins, Palamon and Arcite, who have fought valiantly in the
war against Athens, but have been captured and imprisoned by Theseus.
In jail, they
swear undying devotion to each other -- until they spy Emilia, the
sister-in-law of Theseus, with whom they both fall madly in love. The daughter
of their jailer, meanwhile, has fallen in love with one of them, and she's the
poor soul who goes mad. In the end, the gods are consulted to sort it all out,
gallantry trumps enmity and only the insane are happy in love.
Like the gorgeous "Pericles"
Tresnjak directed at the Globe in 2002, this production has the fanciful
elements of myth and fairy tale. This is a very good thing, since character
development isn't really a strong suit of the play. The two kinsmen are
virtually indistinguishable, even to Emilia, their love-object. She could marry
either one and can't choose between them. The most fully realized and
sympathetic character is the Jailer's daughter, who's also given the most
compelling performance. As we follow her torturous emotional journey, through devotion, rejection, rape,
madness and deluded joy, Bree Elrod captures -- and breaks -- our hearts.
Outdoors in Balboa Park, under the
stars, the dusky night proves a fitting setting to this dark romance. The
production is all shadows and light, with stunning stage pictures created by
superb scenic, costume, lighting and sound design. With tender loving care,
Tresnjak has made his 'flawed beauty' irresistible.
©2004 Patté Productions Inc.