|
Tuesday, 24 October 2006 16:51 |
| | Meg Hale |
I knew that the latest show being performed by N.C. Stage Company, "The Dresser," was a play about the wacky antics that go on backstage of a theater during a show ÇƒÓ and I couldnët wait to check it out.
Then, I found out that the play was written by Ronald Harwood, the writer of the film "The Pianist" (for which he won an Oscar) and thought that this play may not be quite the barrel of laughs I was anticipating.
I was right. While "The Dresser" is ultimately a comedy, it is not "Noises Off." It is not at all a fast-paced, laugh-a-minute farce with flapping doors and physical humor. Donët get me wrong, it is funny. The audience just has to deal with getting a serving of depth along with its comedy for this one.
The play is based on Harwoodës own life-experiences working as the personal dresser for Sir Donald Wolfit, "one of the last ǃÚactor-managersë of Great Britain." In the play, the character of the dresser, Norman, is played by Michael MacCauley, the artistic director of Metabolism Productions in Asheville. Set in World War II England, the play centers around Normanës trials and tribulations, having to deal with an extremely high-strung actor whose nerves have been completely shot due to the bombing of a nearby theater.
The
character of the actor is simply referred to as Sir. He was probably my
favorite character in the play. Actor Stephen Ware plays Sir with such
pompous and pretentious vigor that he cannot help but steal the show.
In the play, Sir
is the lead actor and manager of a traveling Shakespeare Company doing
a tour of the British provinces. Though he has played the lead in the
tragedy of "King Lear" numerous times, he seems to have great
difficulty bringing himself to perform, on the night in question,
because of the emotional strain of his everyday life. Norman has to
deal with Sirës whines and dramatic monologues, and somehow figure out
how to get this looney actor lucid and onstage.
While Sirës
loopiness is hysterical and Normanës scuttling around, trying to deal
with him, creates hilarity as well, the term for this type of play is
tragicomedy. This means that there is humor, but there is lots of
sadness, too. And if youëre hoping for a happy ending, youëre out of
luck. Normanës struggle ranges from funny to futile and at times, he is
almost pathetic to the point of conjuring tears from audience members.
Tragicomedy also
gives the actors wiggle-room on the basic rules of comedy, as far as
pacing, delivery and retorts. Most of the scenes are fairly long, as
are the lines and monologues. A lot of the humor is quite dry as well.
It feels very like a British comedy in its style.
The writing is
undeniably gorgeous. Sirës curtain speech to the audience is
breathtaking, as is Normanës monologue about his lack of
acknowledgement for his efforts. It is certainly easy to tell why
Harwoodës writing has been so well received in all forms, including
plays, films, novels and works of nonfiction.
The set was also
played a huge role in the play. Designed by UNC Asheville Drama
Department Chair Rob Bowen, the set was functional, moveable and
aesthetically pleasing. It did a terrific job of showing the audience
what a play looks like to the cast and crew that are backstage while
the play is going on. It really gave the audience a feeling of being in
on the secrets and stresses of theater behind-the-curtain. I know that
all audience members who had ever worked in theater got a big laugh
from the scene in which Sir realizes he has said the dreaded title of
"The Scottish Play" backstage before a performance.
"The Dresser,"
directed by N.C. Stage Producing Director Angie Flynn-McIver, is funny,
touching, thought-provoking and all-around interesting. I recommend it
to anyone who has a love of theater. It will be performed at 7 p.m.
tonight through Saturday, with a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee. I give it three
and a half of my six planets.
  
|
