Posts Tagged ‘albion theatre’

Albion’s Well-Cast “Mindgame” is a Twisty Psychological Thriller

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , on October 24, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Mindgame
by Anthony Horowitz
Directed by Robert Ashton
Albion Theatre
October 20, 2023

Nick Freed, Chuck Winning
Photo by John Lamb
Albion Theatre

The latest production from  Albion Theatre, Mindgame has an appropriate title. Anthony Horowitz’s intense psychodrama–directed by Robert Ashton–is twisty, intense, and visceral, presenting quite a challenge for actors and directors. Albion meets that challenge in a strong, highly provocative production that’s sure to keep audiences thinking.

The story begins in the office at a hospital for the criminally insane. Styler is there making notes on his tape recorder. He’s hoping to meet with the director of the asylum, Dr. Farquhar–pronounced like “Far-ar” here, as the doctor insists when he arrives. Farquhar is mysterious and suspicious, seemingly not remembering a letter Styler sent requesting the meeting, and eventually being evasive and challenging when Styler reveals his desire to meet with one of the hospital’s infamous patients, a known serial killer. Soon, one of the hospital’s employees, Nurse Paisley, is brought into the story, seeming to be a reluctant participant in whatever Farquhar has planned. There isn’t much else I can say about this story without spoiling, but it involves a series of revelations, machinations, and psychological manipulations that threaten to–and sometimes do–veer into violence.

It’s a clever script, with well-drawn characters who have secrets of their own, and reveal themselves to be more than what they may seem at first, while offering a thought-provoking examination of various concepts including the treatment of mentally ill criminals, the public’s fascination with true crime–and particularly serial killers–and more. This frequently twisting plot and characters present a challenge for actors and directors. Director Ashton has paced the action well, and the excellent cast brings out all the rancor, occasional wry humor, and elevating sense of sheer terror that the script provides. Nick Freed as Styler is an effective protagonist, revealing a range of emotions, and motives over the course of the story, working well with Chuck Winning, who is also superb as the cunning, manipulating, and increasingly hostile Farquhar. Nicole Angeli rounds out the cast in a convincing turn as the mysterious Paisley, offering a convincing portrayal as the characters, and the story, continue to shift and evolve.

The look and atmosphere of this production are also well-done, with an effective, detailed set by technical director Erik Kuhn, who also serves as fight choreographer. There’s also excellent work from costume designer Tracey Newcomb, lighting designer Eric Wennlund, and sound designer Jacob Baxley. The technical aspects work together to help set and maintain the overall tense, confrontational drama that ensues.

Mindgame is certainly a disturbing story, no question. There’s some difficult subject matter here, and it’s not for all audiences, so anyone squeamish about depictions and descriptions of violence, torture, and murder probably will not want to see this show. Still, what is presented here is an exquisitely crafted thriller that is ideally cast and energetically staged. It’s a memorable, provocative production from Albion Theatre.

Chuck Winning, Nicole Angeli, Nick Freed
Photo by John Lamb
Albion Theatre

Albion Theatre is presenting Mindgame at the Kranzberg Arts Center until November 5, 2023

This review was originally published at kdhx.org

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Albion’s “Absent Friends” Features Incisive Comedy, Strong Cast

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , on June 13, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Absent Friends
by Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Robert Ashton
Albion Theatre 
June 9, 2023

Mike DePope, Jason Myers, Ben Ritchie, Nicole Angeli, Anna Langdon, Annalise Webb
Photo by John Lamb
Albion Theatre

Albion Theatre is continuing their latest season with a work by one the UK’s most prolific playwrights. Alan Ayckbourn’s Absent Friends is a comedy with dark undertones, examining the relationships among a group of friends in 1970s England. As directed by Albion’s artistic director Robert Ashton, it’s a precisely paced showcase for an impressive cast of local performers. 

The play follows the story of a group of old friends who are involved in several awkward situations, including suspicions of infidelity, as well as social aspirations, personal grief, and strains on longtime friendships, all handled with at least an attempt at the veneer of British politeness as Diana, played by Nicole Angeli, prepares for a tea party welcoming back visiting and grieving friend Colin, played by Ben Ritchie. Diana is married to Paul, a somewhat haughty successful businessman played by Jason Meyers, but she’s having doubts about his fidelity in the marriage, suspecting him of an affair with Annalise Webb’s somewhat frosty Evelyn, who is married to their friend John, played by Mike DePope. Diana’s friend Marge, who is played by Anna Langdon, tries to encourage Diana and question Evelyn, but soon the frequently restless John arrives and the awkward waiting begins. When Colin finally arrives, he’s eager to talk about his late fiancée Carol, whom none of the group had a chance to meet.  What ensues is an astute examination of the state of the various relationships, including marriages, friendships, and business connections, as well as a look at ambition, mortality, and social obligations in British society. It’s all so deliberately plotted and paced, with excellent use of long pauses in dialogue, unspoken reactions, and the occasional well-placed vocal outburst. 

The cast is well-chosen, led by Angeli in an expertly measured performance as the suspicious, gradually unraveling Diana. Ritchie is also memorable as the grieving but affably intrusive Colin. Meyers, as the upwardly mobile, emotionally clueless Paul, is also strong, as is Langdon as the somewhat Pollyanna-ish Marge. DePope, as the always-moving, insecure John, and Webb as the snarky Evelyn are also excellent. Ensemble chemistry is essential in a story like this, as the various interactions and personality differences are the source of much of the comedy, as well as the tension. It’s all paced with precision by director Ashton, and the players work together well.

The costumes, by Tracey Newcomb, are notable highlight on the technical side, with much attention paid to the details of 1970s fashion, and the characters are outfitted ideally according to their personalities. Erik Kuhn’s set is also impressive in its period style and décor. The lighting by Michelle Zielinski, props by Gwynneth Rausch, and sound by Jacob Baxley also contribute well to the overall atmosphere of the story.

Absent Friends is classified as a comedy, and there’s a lot of humor here, but there’s  a fair amount of drama simmering below the surface, as well, and occasionally emerging in an explosive manner. This is a well-crafted show set in a specific time and place, although it features several timeless themes. It’s another intriguing production from this still relatively new theatre company.

Nicole Angeli, Ben Ritchie, Annalise Webb
Photo by John Lamb
Albion Theatre

Albion Theatre is presenting Absent Friends at the Kranzberg Arts Center until June 25, 2023

This review was originally published at KDHX.org

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Albion Theatre Hosts an Intense, Deliberately Unsettling “Birthday Party”

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , on March 15, 2023| Leave a Comment »

The Birthday Party
by Harold Pinter
Directed by Suki Peters
Albion Theatre
March 10, 2023

Teresa Doggett, Ted Drury, Nick Freed
Photo by John Lamb
Albion Theatre

The latest production from Albion Theatre is a well-known classic of British theatre. The Birthday Party, by celebrated playwright Harold Pinter, is intriguing, memorable, challenging, and deliberately unsettling and disturbing. At Albion, director Suki Peters has staged a thoughtful, impeccably cast production that speaks to its own time as well our own, and is sure to get audiences thinking. 

The play is often mentioned as a prime example of the mid-20th Century Theatre of the Absurd genre, as well as being labeled a “Comedy of Menace”. Both of these descriptors are apt, in that there is a message here, but it’s often not a strictly “coherent” one, and fear, uncertainty, and menace are major features in the play, setting a sort of questioning tone and not providing much in the way of answers. The way it’s staged at Albion focuses much on the building tension and sense of nebulous dread, as well as the mannerisms and particularities of the characters, who are at once unique individuals and recognizable “types”. 

The setup is fairly simple, as older English couple Petey (Robert Ashton) and Meg (Teresa Doggett) have breakfast together in their simple house in a small seaside town. They engage  in a rote, mostly empty discussion of the meal, the day, and their boarder Stanley (Ted Drury), an out-of work pianist who lives out his purposeless days bickering, and occasionally flirting, with Meg, and avoiding people in the outside world. It also may or may not be his birthday, and Meg prepares to celebrate, as neighbor Lulu (Summer Baer) delivers an odd present, and Stanley appears to be unsettled by the news that two men from out of town have asked Petey for a room for the night, because the place may or may not be a boarding house. Soon, the strangers arrive, and they appear to be on a mission involving Stanley, who seems to recognize Goldberg (Chuck Winning), who appears to be in charge, and clearly has unpleasant plans for Stanley, even though we’re never told exactly what those plans are, or what Stanley has done to precipitate the interrogation and menacing that ensues. Goldberg is accompanied a stoic, matter-of-fact Irish assistant, McCann (Nick Freed), and the two proceed to terrorize Stanley while acceding to Meg’s wish to celebrate his “birthday”, insisting on attending the party, which is eventful, to say the least, and not a little disturbing.

Although the “plot”, for what it is, is fairly basic, it’s the characterization and the tone that make this show, with moments of comedy–sometimes broad, sometimes cynical–are interspersed with a more threatening atmosphere. The players here are all well-chosen, and although the accents are mixed bag–ranging from essentially flawless (Ashton and Doggett, who are both originally from the UK, and Freed, who sounds authentically Irish), to “good enough” (Drury and Baer), to “barely there” (Winning)–the characterizations are consistent and excellent. Drury makes a credible, sullen Stanley, adding to the tension and mood with his body language as well as his speaking moments, and he plays especially well in scenes with the superb Doggett as the well-meaning and over-intrusive Meg. Doggett’s comic timing is especially strong, as is Winning’s. Winning and Freed make a suitably threatening pair, and Freed manages to bring layers of depth to his fairly simply presented character. Ashton and Baer are also memorable, making the most of their fairly limited stage time. It’s a strong, cohesive ensemble, handling the overall tone and pacing well. 

The technical aspects of the production are also excellent. The simple unit set by Brad Slavik, along with the costumes by Tracey Newcomb and props by Gwynneth Rausch, establishes the time and place with suitable accuracy while also project a drab “ordinariness” that works especially well for this show. Anthony Anselmo’s lighting is used to striking effect throughout, especially in the birthday party sequences, and the sound by Michael Musgrave-Perkins is also effective. Ryan Lawson-Maeske’s fight-chorography lends to the menacing tone of the play with credible results, as well. 

The Birthday Party, as with other works by Pinter, is a play that is open to interpretation in various ways, and there have been a few differing theories about what is really happening here. Regardless of what it “really” means, though, it’s the feeling of uncertainty and looming threat that dominates, along with a cynical sense of purposelessness and meaningless mundanity in everyday life. These are themes that still resonate now, and this staging highlights them with clarity and intensity. It’s a remarkable, highly memorable production. 

Robert Ashton, Chuck Winning, Nick Freed, Ted Drury
Photo by John Lamb
Albion Theatre

Albion Theatre is presenting The Birthday Party at the Kranzberg Arts Center until March 26, 2023

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Albion Theatre Debuts with Well-Cast, Deliberately Paced “Heroes”

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , on September 26, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Heroes
by Gérald Sibleyras, translated by Tom Stoppard
Directed by Robert Ashton
Albion Theatre
September 25, 2022

David Wassilak, Will Shaw, Isaiah Di Lorenzo
Photo by John Lamb
Albion Theatre

There’s a new theatre company in town, and its first play is an intriguing one. Albion Theatre is focused on works from the British Isles, and occasionally Ireland. Their inaugural production, Heroes, is actually French in origin, but this English translation by one of the UK’s most celebrated playwrights, Tom Stoppard, debuted in a critically-acclaimed run in London’s West End.  As Albion’s first entry in its repertoire, it makes a quiet but strong impression, featuring excellent performances and thoughtful but somewhat slower pacing.

Heroes is classed as a comedy, but it’s not a laugh-a-minute type of show. It’s a more gentle, thoughtful piece, focused more on developing the characters than just getting laughs. It’s also deliberately paced to the point that it forces the audience to pay attention, and can drag in places if not well-paced. For the most part, this production is paced just right. The story follows a trio of French World War I veterans who are living in a retirement home for vets in 1959. They have each been there for a different length of time–Henri (David Wassilak), who lost part of his leg in the war and walks with a can, has been there 25 years; Phillipe, who suffers from period fainting spells due to shrapnel lodged in his head, has been there 10 years; and the semi-reclusive Gustave (Will Shaw), has been there six months, although he seems to see himself as something of the ringleader of the group. The three spend their days on a terrace of the home, passing the time sharing their opinions of the various residents of the home and the nuns who work there, reminiscing and bragging about past romantic exploits, as well as family difficulties, and imagining elaborate trips abroad, even going so far as to plan an escape to see a grove of poplar trees in which Gustave is fascinated. They also share an odd connection to a stone dog sculpture that sits on the terrace, often acting as if it is a real animal. There isn’t much in the way of plot–it’s more of a character study and a meditation on aging. loneliness, and the need for companionship, as well as the changes in society over time and attitudes toward the aging and veterans in particular. It’s clearly a comedy, with a humor that is sometimes subtle, sometimes mildly risqué, and sometimes with hints of darkness, as these three men know their time is limited and are struggling to maintain meaning in their lives. 

The characters are well-drawn and the dialogue is well-constructed. The slower tone of this play requires engaging actors to keep the pace, and this production has found excellent performers. All three work together well, and the interplay between the characters is what makes the story here, with all three inhabiting their characters fully and portraying their quirks, annoyances, and endearing qualities with clarity and intelligence. Shaw as the somewhat bossy but insecure Gustave has memorable presence, and Wassilak as the more practical-minded Henri is also excellent, as is Di Lorenzo as the physically fragile but emotionally energetic Phillipe. All three lend a compelling air to the proceedings, as do their interactions with the one silent cast member, the stone dog statue, credited in the program as “Gérald Le Chien”. 

The dog also contributes to the interest of the play in a different way, as he is frequently being moved around between scenes by assistant director/stage manager Gwynneth Rausch with a hand truck–I wonder how much he weighs. Trying to guess where the dog will end up next contributes to the comic tone of the show. The other technical qualities are also strong, including Brad Slavik’s simple but realistic unit set, Marjorie Williamson’s expert set painting, Nathan Schroeder’s excellent lighting, Tracey Newcombe’s character-appropriate costumes, and Robin Weatherall’s proficient sound design. The overall atmosphere of time and place is well-maintained, working well with the mood and style of the play. 

Overall, while I think Heroes is something of a subdued choice for a debut production from a new theatre company, Albion Theatre has made a strong impression, especially considering the strength of the cast. It’s a thought-provoking show with some truly funny moments, as well as moments of poignancy. I’m looking forward to seeing more productions from this promising new company.

David Wassilak, Will Shaw, Isaiah Di Lorenzo
Photo by John Lamb
Albion Theatre

Albion Theatre is presenting Heroes at the Kranzberg Black Box Theatre until October 9, 2022

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