[NEohioPAL]Berko reviews: DAME EDNA (PALACE); VINCENT IN BRIXTON" (CPH)

[Roy Berko]

‘VINCENT IN BRIXTON’ AT CPH; DAME EDNA AT THE PALACE

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times	

‘VINCENT IN BRIXTON’ A FINE PRODUCTION AT CPH

The legend of Vincent van Gogh lives on through his
paintings, those swirling, thickly pigmented canvases
filled with sunflowers, soulful faces and starry night
skies.   Rumors live on of his life, the famous
cutting off of his own ear, his co-dependent
relationship with his brother, his monumental fits of
depression, and his penniless existence.   

The painter has been depicted as a tortured genius,
but in ‘VINCENT IN BRIXTON,  Nicholas Wright’s award
winning play now on stage at the Cleveland Play House,
van Gogh takes on the image of a raw, naive, tactless
and even comical character.

Van Gogh had three uncles who were art dealers.  In
1873, at age 20, in order to train him for entrance
into the family business, he was moved from his native
Holland to work in the London office of an
international art-dealing firm. It is at this point
that author Wright starts his play.   The script
traces the transforming effects of love, sex and
youthful adventure on van Gogh's still-unformed
talent. 
  
Vincent rented a room in the house of a widow named
Ursula Loyer and her adult daughter Eugenie.  Wright
speculates that van Gogh fell in love with both women,
but it was his affair with Mrs. Loyer that was a
life-altering experience in a journey that ultimately
ended with mental breakdown, death and immortality. 

The “facts” of this story were taken from letters
written by van Gogh to various family members.  Wright
has filled in the gaps where real information does not
exist, thus creating a biodrama, not a histodrama. 

The play, which won the Olivier Award for its London
production, has been called "a fascinating, funny and
sometimes deeply moving Portrait of the Artist as a
Young Man," “Wright's best play," “an enthralling
play,” and “fascinating, funny and moving.”

The CPH’s production, under the expert direction of
Seth Gordon, is generally on target.  As he did with
last year’s ‘PROOF,’ Gordon again proves himself to be
the most talented of CPH directors.  He is the only
director so far who has found a way to use the poorly
designed Baxter Stage with any positive effect.  It
can only be hoped that with the reorganization of the
theatre Gordon is not only encouraged to remain, but
is given more responsibilities.,

Beth Dixon gives a fine performance as Ursula, van
Gogh’s mature lover.  Simon Kendall is perfect as
Vincent.  His frail body and delicate face give a
vivid picture of the troubled van Gogh as a youth. 
His acting nuances, foretell the torture that the man
will experience.  Virginia Donohoe and Patrick Jones
are excellent as the daughter and her lover/husband. 
Only Emily Frazier Klingensmith is weak in her
performance.  Complete with overdone accent, hers is
not a believable portrayal of Vincent’s sister.

Kent Dorsey’s set is excellent, but one must wonder
about the modern plumbing and running water in a
London house in 1873.   

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:  ‘VINCENT IN BRIXTON’ is excellent.
 It is the bringing together of a well-honed script
and fine production values.  This is what the
Cleveland Play House should be doing on a regular
basis.

‘VINCENT IN BRIXTON’ runs until March 7.   For
tickets, which range from $32 to $40, with “under 25 “
tickets at $12, call 216-795-7000 or go on-line to
www.clevelandplayhouse.com.


DAME EDNA DELIGHTS AT THE PALACE

Cleveland audiences are noted for giving standing
ovations to theatrical presentations.  Never, however,
has the Palace Theatre been the setting for the
standing “O” given for and orchestrated by Dame Edna
Everage.  Dame Edna Everage?  The character is the
creation of Australian, Barry Humphries, who calls
herself, an icon and a megastar, among other things.  
One thing he/she is not is an impersonator.  Barry
Humphries IS Dame Edna, pure and simple, period!  He’s
been doing the character since the 70s and he has it
down perfectly.  

Dame Edna has been credited with being “one of the
funniest characters to grace the stage.” She was the
winner of the "Special 2000 Tony Award" for Best "Live
Theatrical Event" and received the National Broadway
Theatre Award for "Best Play" and for "Best Actor.”

During her nearly two-and-one-half hour show, she
combines a few patter songs, with chatter in which she
addresses the entire audience but singles out some for
close scrutiny.  She calls them by name, harasses them
in a passive aggressive manner, which, according to
Dame Edna is “delivered in a tasteful and loving way.”
As she says, “I don’t pick on people.  I empower them.
 It’s Australian tough love.”  

Two late arrivers were asked their names and why they
were tardy.  As expected Dame Edna goes on a bit about
it.  Is she done with them?  No!   She returns to the
latecomers over and over, to the delight of the
audience.   She addresses a “senior” in the third row,
and before he knows it he ends up on stage in Dame
Edna’s recreation of the Royal Family of England.  
She collects audience members’ shoes for a “reading”
of their characters.  She uses local references with
ease.  WEWS-TV’s Adam Shapiro, Rocky River, the West
side Market vendors who buy tomatoes as Giant Eagle
and spread them with manure to give the idea that they
are selling organic products, Shaker Heights and
Streetsboro all get their share of attention.  They
are skewered, as is the clothing of audience members,
and their decorating skills.  Two women end up dining
on pasta on stage during the second act.   A young
couple who Dame Edna declares are having marital
problems are dragged onto the stage and a long
distance call is made to the woman’s Australian mother
who is living in Maryland, so she can be told of their
problems and invited to come live with them.  No one
and nothing is really safe as she talks to people in
the boxes on each side of the theater and to the
paupers in the balcony, does a monologue about
prostrates, and the elderly who have been placed in
the “home for the burdened.” Hysteria is the order of
night.

In the hands of someone else it could come across as
mean-spirited and crude but Dame Edna’s personality
puts her audience at ease so even those who were the
brunt of her jibes appeared to enjoy themselves.

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT: If you are in the right mood, and
allow yourself to “let loose”“A NIGHT WITH DAME EDNA”
is 2 1/2 hours of some of the funniest material on the
planet.   Obviously, some didn’t appreciate her double
entendres and style of fun as there was a small exodus
at intermission.  It was their loss!  From my
perspective, it was one of the most enjoyable evenings
of fun I’ve had in the theater. 

For tickets for ‘A NIGHT WITH DAME EDNA’ which runs
through February 29 call 216-241-6000 or go on line to playhousesquare.com.

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