By Richard Pacheco
The Gamm is
doing a new version of Frederich Schiller’s “Mary Stewart” adapted and directed
by Gamm Artistic Director Tony Estrella. While there are some slow moments in
it, the acting is excellent and vibrant.
Estrella
has taken the 217-year-old play of gender politics and tried to make it more
accessible for contemporary audiences. Schiller tells the tale of the battle
between Queen Elizabeth and her archrival and cousin Mary Stewart with Mary’s
19-year imprisonment and eventual execution. To do so, he takes a look at
gender politics.
The two
women were at the time they loved the two most powerful in England and rivals
for the throne there. One of the other aspects in the play is the then rivalry
between Catholics and Protestants in England at the time. It is intense and
vibrant as their disagreement grow an Elizabeth often finds her wishes at odds
with her advisors, who often view her as weak and not in control.
Jennie Kane is Elizabeth. She is
proud, a bit aloof, reluctant to kill her cousin Mary to protect her throne.
She manages to wriggle in between the intricacies of political bantering and
disagreements. She knows how to handle the men who constantly attempt to rule
over her and get in the way of her wishes. She is determined and stalwart,
aware of her position and unafraid to fight for it, to maintain it and
transcend it. Kane is winning in the role, the epitome of poise and style. She
is elegant and restrained with conviction and passion.
Marianna Bassham is Mary Queen of Scots, the Catholic pretender to the
throne of England and Elizabeth’s cousin. She has been imprisoned for 19 years
at the mercy of Elizabeth. She is stalwart in her determination to keep things
as friendly as possible, not very easy under the circumstances. She is every inch the match for Elizabeth,
ready to go the distance with her, no mater what it takes. Yet she is also
weakening under the strains of imprisonment, showing sign of wear and
weariness. Bassham brings Mary to life with vigor, energy and honesty. She
aptly captures Mary’s mixed feelings and passionate desire to reverse the
circumnutates if possible.
The two of them are excellent
together with the right balance of passion and intellect, the mixture of a
fierce fight literally to the death even with Elizabeth’s reluctance to send
her cousin to death by beheading.
Wendy Overly is Mary’s nurse, loyal
and steadfast no matter what it takes. She is supportive and practical, a true
ally as well as servant. Overly is sincere and vibrant in the role.
The rest of the cast is winning
support, full of vitality and finesse. There is Sir Amyas Paulet, played by
Richard Noble, who accepts his role as Mary’s protector and jailer. He knows
his duty and fearlessly pursues it while never losing his sense of reason and
common sense. There is the ruthless and inflexible Lord Burleigh, Elizabeth’s
advisor, played with conviction and
poise by Cliff Odle, Justin Blanchard is Leicester, who loves both queens with
conviction and honesty, genuinely torn between them, caught in the tangle of
his convoluted facts which are necessarily alternative to truths. Then there is
Clara Wesihan as Davison, the Queen’s secretary who is ensnared in the miasma
of middle management, a dangerous place to be amidst all the relentless
intrigues which abound.
Tony Estrella directs with
conviction and energy that in his adaptation he transforms into something more
bout the 21st century than the 15th century.
The costumes by Amanda Downing
Carney are contemporary and work very well.
The set is minimal with two large post modern images of queens on the
back walls. That is all that is necessary.
It is a winning production full of
fine acting. While at times the play seems to strain for contemporary relevance
it is a good vehicle for the talented cast.
It
continues at the Gamm until May 28. Shows are at 7 pm except for Friday and
Saturday when they are at 8 and on Sunday with a matinee at 2 pm and show at 7
pm. Tickets are $44.75 - $52.75. http://www.gammtheatre.org/ 172 Exchange Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860 | BOX
OFFICE : 401-723-4266
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