[NEohioPAL]Rave Review of Herbal Bed at Actors' Summit -- Beacon Journal

[Thackaberr at aol.com]

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`The Herbal Bed' seduces audience

Actors give characters life in adulterous tale

The Herbal Bed has the most fervent love scene I've seen on the Actors' 
Summit stage.
The lighting is beautiful and the electricity is palpable as a sensual scene 
unfolds between Susanna Shakespeare Hall and Rafe Smith, played by fine actors 
Sally Groth and Nick Koesters.
>From their earliest moments together onstage, through the actors' art of 
nuance, this couple's attraction is undeniable: The awkward conversation here, the 
brief touch that unexpectedly jolts there. This man and woman, both locked in 
loveless marriages, are overcome by forbidden passion.
Playwright Peter Whelan bases his story on the true lawsuit by Shakespeare's 
daughter, Susanna, against a man accusing her of adultery.
In this regional premiere of The Herbal Bed, spoiled rich boy Jack Lane is 
played with cockiness and randiness to spare by Scott Shriner in his Actors' 
Summit debut. The disgruntled Jack, training to be a doctor, accuses his former 
employer's wife of having an affair with a married neighbor.
It's rewarding to see Koesters, known for his excellent work throughout 
Northeast Ohio, also making his Actors' Summit debut. His Rafe is a tortured 
romantic who stares at his beloved's window every night.
In the apt hands of this cast, this 1613 story of scandal is full of sexy 
suspense. The hour-plus first act seems to fly by as we watch Susanna and Rafe on 
their collision course.
The tempo slows down in the second act. But just when we think all parties 
involved have conveniently gotten off the hook, an overly zealous, puritan 
Barnabus Goche (Neil Thackaberry) throws a wrench into matters in a church court.
The play poses interesting questions about morality. Rafe sees right and 
wrong as a matter of black and white. He grapples to do the right thing but is 
unable to resist the temptress Susanna.
Susanna, an intelligent, independent-minded woman, sees morality in shades of 
gray.
``We have two natures, and God gave us both of them,'' she tells Rafe.
She's a woman who splits hairs in order to save her reputation, her love 
interest's and her husband's. Susanna is a hypocrite and she's conniving, but we 
like her. Interestingly, she puts her husband's exalted position as a doctor 
above all else.
Alex Cikra makes Dr. John Hall so much more than the duped husband. With just 
one knowing look, we know that the doctor more than suspects something's 
going on between his wife and his neighbor.
Dr. Hall takes the high road, but Cikra shows us real tears, making the 
otherwise rigid doctor a surprisingly sympathetic character.
Costumes by MaryJo Alexander are lovely, and a wooden-shelved home pharmacy 
designed by carpenter Ira Sherman looks quite elaborate, complete with 
exotic-looking bottles and mortars and pestles. (Dr. John Hall was known to be ahead 
of his time as a doctor of herbalism.)
Youngster Eric De Roche, a Hudson third-grader, is adorable as little Bess 
Hall. And Jen Clifford adds a comical and even more complicated element to this 
story as servant Hester.
This story is so compelling, it's unfortunate the play was short-lived on 
Broadway after transferring from London. In New York, The Herbal Bed ran for only 
23 previews and 13 performances in 1998.
The show has bawdy Elizabethan language and suggestive situations, but only a 
few references to the aging Bard, who is not seen onstage.
This is the stuff of satisfying drama, with nearly all of the characters 
tormented by frustrated desires. The show is bound to warm audiences up on a cold 
winter night.



Theater critic Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or by e-mail at 
kclawson at thebeaconjournal.com

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Y: Arial"><FONT size=3D4>`The Herbal Bed' seduces audience<o:p></o:p></FONT>=
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N style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT color=3D#666666>Actors=20=
give characters life in adulterous tale</FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN style=
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<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The Herb=
al Bed has the most fervent love scene I've seen on the Actors' </SPAN><st1:=
City><st1:place><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Ar=
ial">Summit</SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLO=
R: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> stage.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The ligh=
ting is beautiful and the electricity is palpable as a sensual scene unfolds=
 between Susanna Shakespeare Hall and Rafe Smith, played by fine actors Sall=
y Groth and Nick Koesters.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">From the=
ir earliest moments together onstage, through the actors' art of nuance, thi=
s couple's attraction is undeniable: The awkward conversation here, the brie=
f touch that unexpectedly jolts there. This man and woman, both locked in lo=
veless marriages, are overcome by forbidden passion.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Playwrig=
ht Peter Whelan bases his story on the true lawsuit by Shakespeare's daughte=
r, Susanna, against a man accusing her of adultery.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">In this=20=
regional premiere of The Herbal Bed, spoiled rich boy </SPAN><st1:Street><st=
1:address><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">J=
ack Lane</SPAN></st1:address></st1:Street><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COL=
OR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> is played with cockiness and randiness to sp=
are by Scott Shriner in his Actors' </SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style=
=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Summit</SPAN></st1:pla=
ce></st1:City><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Aria=
l"> debut. The disgruntled Jack, training to be a doctor, accuses his former=
 employer's wife of having an affair with a married neighbor.<o:p></o:p></SP=
AN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">It's rew=
arding to see Koesters, known for his excellent work throughout </SPAN><st1:=
place><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">North=
east Ohio</SPAN></st1:place><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FON=
T-FAMILY: Arial">, also making his Actors' </SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN=
 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Summit</SPAN></s=
t1:place></st1:City><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY=
: Arial"> debut. His Rafe is a tortured romantic who stares at his beloved's=
 window every night.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">In the a=
pt hands of this cast, this 1613 story of scandal is full of sexy suspense.=20=
The hour-plus first act seems to fly by as we watch Susanna and Rafe on thei=
r collision course.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The temp=
o slows down in the second act. But just when we think all parties involved=20=
have conveniently gotten off the hook, an overly zealous, puritan Barnabus G=
oche (Neil Thackaberry) throws a wrench into matters in a church court.<o:p>=
</o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The play=
 poses interesting questions about morality. Rafe sees right and wrong as a=20=
matter of black and white. He grapples to do the right thing but is unable t=
o resist the temptress Susanna.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Susanna,=
 an intelligent, independent-minded woman, sees morality in shades of gray.<=
o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">``We hav=
e two natures, and God gave us both of them,'' she tells Rafe.<o:p></o:p></S=
PAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">She's a=20=
woman who splits hairs in order to save her reputation, her love interest's=20=
and her husband's. Susanna is a hypocrite and she's conniving, but we like h=
er. Interestingly, she puts her husband's exalted position as a doctor above=
 all else.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Alex Cik=
ra makes Dr. John Hall so much more than the duped husband. With just one kn=
owing look, we know that the doctor more than suspects something's going on=20=
between his wife and his neighbor.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Dr. Hall=
 takes the high road, but Cikra shows us real tears, making the otherwise ri=
gid doctor a surprisingly sympathetic character.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Costumes=
 by MaryJo Alexander are lovely, and a wooden-shelved home pharmacy designed=
 by carpenter Ira Sherman looks quite elaborate, complete with exotic-lookin=
g bottles and mortars and pestles. (Dr. John Hall was known to be ahead of h=
is time as a doctor of herbalism.)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Youngste=
r Eric De Roche, a </SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt=
; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Hudson</SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPA=
N style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> third-grader,=20=
is adorable as little Bess Hall. And Jen Clifford adds a comical and even mo=
re complicated element to this story as servant Hester.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P=
>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">This sto=
ry is so compelling, it's unfortunate the play was short-lived on Broadway a=
fter transferring from </SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">London</SPAN></st1:place></st1:City>=
<SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">. In </SPAN=
><st1:State><st1:place><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAM=
ILY: Arial">New York</SPAN></st1:place></st1:State><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">, The Herbal Bed ran for only 23 pre=
views and 13 performances in 1998.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The show=
 has bawdy Elizabethan language and suggestive situations, but only a few re=
ferences to the aging Bard, who is not seen onstage.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">This is=20=
the stuff of satisfying drama, with nearly all of the characters tormented b=
y frustrated desires. The show is bound to warm audiences up on a cold winte=
r night.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" ali=
gn=3Dcenter><I><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Ari=
al">
<HR align=3Dcenter width=3D"100%" color=3D#cccccc noShade SIZE=3D1>
</SPAN></I></DIV><I><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY=
: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-U=
S; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><SPAN class=3Dtagl=
ine1>Theater critic Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or by e-mai=
l at <A href=3D"mailto:kclawson at thebeaconjournal.com"><FONT color=3D#0027b4>=
kclawson at thebeaconjournal.com</FONT></A></SPAN></SPAN></I></BODY></HTML>

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