By Chelsea Mortensen
The Regent Street Black Box in Salt Lake City sets the stage for a group of Scaffold Theatre’s advanced actors class to showcase their training in A Night of Classic Theatre on Friday and Saturday night. Born out of the annual showcase of Julie-Anne Liechty’s Actors in Action Professional Actor Training Advanced Class, this annual tradition allows these performers to play multiple roles across several scenes from six different shows. In Grotowski-like fashion, the performance is completely focused on the relationship between the actor and the text, with little else to distract from it. The performance uses multi-purpose blocks to suggest sets in different configurations for each scene, props are mimed, the actors all wear a uniform of black pants and each a different color shirt. Much like their costumes, the actors’ vocal and physical approach to the older texts feels contemporary- perhaps as a way of helping plays that range from 100-2000 years old resonate with today’s audience.
Jack Foriska begins the performance as calling down rain and lightning as Prospero from The Tempest. Very committed to his performance, Foriska works to make full use of the space and his voice. This provides a nice contrast to his other Shakespearean character- the loyal and earnest Banquo in Macbeth.
Brooklyn Bagley is timid and unassuming as Miranda in The Tempest while her Second Witch in Macbeth is almost the exact opposite with an animalistic voice and movement. Her Nina from The Seagull lies somewhere in the middle, pacing the stage with a desperate sadness. Natalie Rhode makes a similar transformation from the impetuous Ariel, (bringing a gravitas not usually seen in the ethereal character), to the more-refined and anxious Nora. Joshua Kent Stallings holds the beginning and end of his scene from The Seagull alone as the ever-introspective and self-doubting Konstantin.
Teren Turner brings an almost demonic voice to the First Witch in and stalks the stage with a hulking menace. He returns in Medea as a cautious but conflicted Creon, using his blocking relative to the women as a symbolic representation of his ability to be persuaded. Kimberly Rodriguez and Althea Sam both appear once their supporting roles of Third Witch and Mrs. Linde, respectively. Cheryl Holdaway’s only named character of the evening as Vinne in Eugen O’Neill’s Mourning Becomes Electra, but is not to be forgotten. Holdaway’s character is relentlessly devoted in her pursuit of what she believes to be justice. Hazel Diaz as Christine proves to be a formidable opponent, unflinchingly honest and contemplative. Diaz works more subtly as Medea, appealing to ego and shrouding over concerns with pleas for pity. Diaz is lucky to be supported by an attentive ensemble for the Corinthian women with Bagley, Sam, Holdaway, and two other supporting players; Madison Henderson and Olivia Cook.
In keeping with the rest of the show’s bare-bones aesthetic, the lighting and sound design by Christopher Philion assisted by April-Emily Moorer focuses on setting the tone for each scene with few crucial stylistic cues (like the ripping of paper) at important moments in the scenes.
Director and teacher of the company Julie-Anne Liechty makes an appearance as the title character in Act 1 Scene 3 from Macbeth. Liechty brings a more heightened, stylized physicality to the role which adds to the scene, which I felt was the most dynamic of the night.
Teens and tweens with an appetite for the older language of the plays will be able to follow the stories with their fellow adult audience members. Some of the thematic materials touch on murder and infidelity, but there is no crude language, violence, or mature content that would concern parents. A Night of Classical Theatre shows the progress made by a group of novice actors exploring their craft through some of our world’s most important stories. It can provide exposure to those unfamiliar with these cornerstones of Western drama and is a great way to support artists in training.
Scaffold Theatre at the Regent Black Box Theatre in Salt Lake has one performance left of A Night of Classical Theatre tonight, so come to support new artists if you can!
Scaffold Theatre presents A Night of Classical Theatre
Regent Black Box Theatre, 144 South Regent Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84111. June 15, 2019 7:30 pm
Tickets: $20
Contact: artsaltlake.org.
Actors in Action Facebook Page
A Night of Classical Theatre Facebook Event
0 Comments