“Educating Rita” at 2nd Story

By Richard Pacheco

            “Educating Rita” at 2^nd Story Theater is a sheer delight, deftly acted by Ed Shea and Tammy Brown, full of verve, finesse and emotional impact.

            Ed Shea who has spent most of his time at 2^nd Story as a director has more recently returned to the stage as an actor with some riveting performances and this is no exception. He is Frank, a failed poet, once the darling of the academic world, now more ad disheveled disaster of a professor on his last legs, one his way out more dedicated to alcohol than to academia. It is a dazzling performance, full of nuance and energy as he plays the bitter professor, disenchanted with his life and too fond of the scotch nips he has hidden throughout his office.

This is all brought vividly to life with his interactions with Rita, played by Tammy Brown as the feisty, sassy hairdresser who wants to plunge headfirst into learning with passion and determination. Rita is trapped in what is for her a dead end job and a bad marriage and she views this chance for education as her way out, her escape to a better life. She plunges with all her energy and determination she can muster. She craves the world of books and theater as her rescue, her way out of the mire she finds herself trapped within. Tammy Brown is terrific and the perfect match for Shea’s Frank. Her transition from the lower class British accent to more cultured is perfect. It also offers another dimension to her performance with is robust and skilled.

It all evolves over a series of very short scenes which almost seems at times too much and too quick. But there is an emotional wave which transforms it all into something rich and resonant. It traces not only Rita’s steps towards liberation and education, but also Frank’s increasing enchantment with her, even dare say following in love with her.

Rita recounts her adventures with other students as she glides from her disenchanted ignorance to feeling she is the intellectual equal of Frank.  As she grows bolder and more self confident, Frank grows a bit angry and irritated, even to the point of being jealous when she mentions the young male students she has come to know along the way.

British playwright Willy Russell sets the play entirely in the office of an open lecturer. It was also turned into a memorable film staring Michael Caine and Julie Walters.

Director Mark Pekham deftly manages all the rapid scenes with assurance and energy. He blends it all smoothly together.

The set by Max Ponticelli is excellent, ably capturing the atmosphere of a professor’s office.

This is an excellent production that you won’t want to miss. It is a sheer delight that satisfies on so many levels.

It will be presented until May 22 at 2^nd Story Theatre, upstairs, 28 Market Street, Warren. www.2ndstorytheratre.com 401-247-4200.

“The Winter’s Tale” at the Gamm

By Richard Pacheco

            The Gamm Theatre wraps up its current season with a splendid production of Shakespeare’s “The Winter Tale” with its many twists of plot and somewhat implausible ending but all a truly enjoyable ride along the way. The large cast is winning and moves along with energy and determination.

            King Leonte is tormented by raging jealousy. The play opens with the meeting of two lifelong friends, Leontes, king of Sicilia and Polixenes, the King of Bohemia. After nine months Polixenes series to return to his own kingdom to tend to his affairs and see his son. Leontes’ efforts to convince him to stay meet with failure so he sends his wife to convince his friend. Hermione agrees and convinces him to stay. Leontes is perplexed how she convinced him to stay so easily. He suspects his pregnant wife has been having an affair with him and that the child is a bastard.  He orders one of his lords to poison his friend but instead he warns him and they both flee to his kingdom.

            Furious Leontes publicly accuses his wife of infidelity and declares her child illegitimate. He throws her in prison over the protests of his nobles. She gives birth to a girl. Despite the fact that the oracle clears his wife, all plummets into disaster with the death of his son and his wife is reported dead. His infant daughter is left on the shores of his friend’s land. Then it rolls further long with more twists and turns pilling up along the way.

            The baby named Perdita is reared by and old shepherd. When she reaches 16 she falls in love with, yes, Polixenes’ son.

            From there it is a mere matter of untwisting the twisted to resolve all well which it does.

            Fred Sullivan directs with a keen eye and supple touch. It moves merrily along with zest and finesse, well acted and energetic. His appearance in the show as the rascal and mutton chopped rogue Autolycus is pure delight, bigger than life and ribald and energetic.

            Tony Estrela, the artistic director of the Gamm is stunning as Leontes. He is a dense mixture of jealousy and remorse, all vividly conveyed with skill and flair. In his able hands the tormented king is convincing and sympathetic despite his baseless jealousy.

            Karen Carpenter is the epitome of the unjustly accused Hermione, all poise and presence. She is sympathetic in her dignity and conviction, her protestations of innocence at being wrongly accused.

            Jesse Hinton is the longtime friend, King Polixenes, an honest man, a loyal friend. Hinson is excellent in the role, poised and elegant, full of confidence and a sense of royalty.

            Mark S. Cartier is wining at the old Shepherd. Nora Eschenheimer is charming as Perdita, easy going and energetic. Florizel, King Polixenes’ son is played by Jeff Church with gusto and finesse.

            The large cast is right on the mark, full of sincerity and liveliness. It is well worth seeing, an outstanding production.

            The set designed by Patrick Lynch is a bit stark and plain with not much to it. IT is not very evocative. The Jessie Darrell Jarbadan costumes are also fairly simple, not very elegant for royalty.

            The first act seems a lot like Othello minus Iago with its severe ever mounting jealousy. The second act seems more comedic in nature.  So it is more upbeat at the end however implausible it might be.

            "The Winter's Tale" runs through May 29 at the Gamm Theatre, 172 Exchange St., Pawtucket. Tickets are $41-$49. Call (401) 723-4266, or visit gammtheatre.org.