If you want to see incredible ensemble work, and movement that illuminates the text of the Bard, you could hop a flight across the pond, schlep up to the Midlands and immerse yourself in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s season, you could try to screen some of their classic productions off a platform, or from now until December 7th, you can head to Navy Pier for a delicious production of Pericles, live and in person. You don't want to pass this up!
Pericles is an odd play– most scholars agree that Shakespeare did not write the whole of it, and it fell out of favor and was not performed for about two centuries. There is a lot of telling and not showing so it could, in less able hands, drag. It is an odyssey where the Prince of Tyre keeps having sea disasters, and also keeps trying to do things to win a bride when one would think his title alone would make him a catch. And once he marries a princess she appears to die in childbirth, at sea. Unlucky guy this. He really needs to avoid boats. He fosters out his daughter, Marina born at sea and things go awry for her, too. High born or no its not a great world for women, perhaps coming true again? It is also a meditation on corruption of people in power which makes it timely at this moment. But even if you aren’t into contemplating what makes a good leader, or a safe society for women and girls, you will enjoy this play for the way in which director Tamara Harvey has built a world and invited you into it. This ever evolving chameleon-like ensemble plays a cast of many, becoming nameless pirates, and knights and courtiers, then becoming named characters in a complex plot by almost molecularly morphing themselves with a few additions to Kinnetia Isidore’s stylish costuming. Every aspect of theatrical craft is nicely honed here but it is the movement direction of Annie-Lunnette Deakin-Foster that seals the deal of this being a remarkable production: it is the way the ensemble moves together and uses gesture and movement to tell a story that stands apart. When an actor like Chyna-Rose Frederick goes from ill used, abused Antiochus’ Daughter to aging nurse Lychorida to dream sequence Goddess Diana, she completely transforms her physicality rendering herself anew for each character. It’s wondrous to watch!
Zach Wyatt’s Pericle is a touch too declamatory for my taste and he does not always energetically mesh with the all in /whole body acting of the ensemble but his lovely portrayal is appealing to traditionalists in the room. Christian Patterson’s Simonides brings a master class in clown to the show, and humanizes everyone in Pentapolis. He delights the audience and breaks the fourth wall with aplomb.
The entire show has comedy and tragedy, deep topics and rollicking entertainment. Chicago Shakes is bringing Stratford on Avon to Navy Pier and I am deeply grateful I don’t need to be jet lagged to see this show. Get thee to a great one!
Pericles is running some Tuesdays and Wednesdays through Sundays at the Courtyard Theatre of Chicago Shakespeare at Navy Pier. For tickets and information go to https://www.chicagoshakes.com/productions/2425-pericles/
For more reviews go to https://www.theatreinchicago.com
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