[NEohioPAL]Berko review: THE HERB GARDEN (Actors' Summit)

[Roy Berko]

FINE PRODUCTION OF ‘HERBAL BED’ AT ACTOR’S SUMMIT

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association and
Dance Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

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

Did you know that William Shakespeare had a daughter
named Susanna who sued a man who had slandered her? 
Were you aware that Shakespeare’s son-in-law, Dr. John
Hall, was responsible for developing a proper
treatment for scurvy?  Well, these and many other
revelations unravel in Peter Whelan’s THE HERBAL BED,
now on stage at Actors’ Summit.

History recounts that in June of 1613 Shakespeare's
elder daughter, Susanna, was publicly accused of
having a sexual liaison with a married neighbor, Rafe
Smith, as well as having a sexually transmitted
disease.  On July 15th she sued Jack Lane, the tale
teller,   for slander in the court of Worcester
Cathedral.  Lane, a well-born but dissipated young
student of Dr. Hall’s was upset because of his
rejection by both the wife and the doctor and while
drunk poured forth the gossip.  Susanna’s husband,
desperate to clear her name and protect his practice,
gives her his full support.  Arching over all of this
is the truth that the neighbor was seen secretly
leaving their herbal garden one night when the doctor
was on a call.

The title of the piece refers to the fact that John
Hall, is a physician whose practice, according to the
knowledge of the age, relied on herbal medicines grown
in his home garden. The “bed,” in ‘THE HERBAL BED’
therefore, has a double meaning – sexual and
horticultural. 

The script has been described as “a gripping play,
written with a kind of fiery calm, ...a love story, a
courtroom drama and a moral thriller, “ “...a
scrupulously crafted work, thoughtful, often funny,
moving and always engrossing," and “A first rate drama
with interesting moral issues of truth and
expediency.”  On the other hand, it was also reviewed
in more negative terms, “If the prospect of sitting
through a play loaded with ...moral philosophy seems
unbearably dull to you, you're probably a lot like
most people.”

The Actors’ Summit production is excellent.  Though
much of the play is low-keyed, it is none-the-less
compelling.  The love scene between Sally Groth
(Susanna) and Nick Koesters (Rafe) is finely tuned and
emotionally compelling.  Interestingly, in other
productions, the scene contained nudity.  In the AS
production, though Koesters loses his shirt, Groth
remains totally clothed.  The implied interaction is
as strong as if a costume malfunction had taken place
and may be even stronger as the audience is unsure of
what really did happen that fateful night.   And, the
final line of the play (which will not be revealed
here for sake of ruining the ending of the production)
was so cleverly written and so well-delivered by Jen
Clifford, portraying a servant, that the audience
chuckled all through the curtain call.

A. Neil Thackaberry’s directing was on target.  The
slow pace, clearly developed emotional keying and
avoiding forced English accents all worked well.  

The cast is generally excellent.  Alex Cikra was
properly stiff, pious and priggish as Dr. Hall.  Groth
was exceptional as Susanna.  She showed the character
to be  intelligent, forceful and sensual.  Nick
Keosters’ Rafe was clearly emotionally tortured and
love struck while being emotionally conflicted. Jen
Clifford was delightful as the servant.  William
Frederick’s portrayal of Bishop Parry was fine.    

No one plays pompous better than Thackaberry, who not
only directed but portrayed the holier-than-thou
Vicar-General.  Young Erica DeRoche made for a sweet
Elizabeth, the Hall’s young daughter.  

Only Scott Shriner failed to live up to the rest of
the cast.  Jack Lane, the accused slanderer, must be
coarse and amoral.  He must be loathsomely
melodramatic yet realistic villain.   Unfortunately,
Shriner lacked the depth of role development and
played the character rather than being the person.

Side note:  Often at the conclusion of historical
films there are statements concerning what happened to
the characters following the ending of the script.  As
I drove home I was wondering,  What really happened
between Susanna and Rafe? Was Jack Lane telling the
truth or simply a resentful lie? What was the
underlying nature of Susanna's relationship with her
husband, and with Jack Lane himself?   A quick on-line
search didn’t give me any answers!  Oh well....

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:  Interested in a history lesson? 
Want an evening of philosophical drama with low key
intrigue?  Want to see some fine performances? If so,
see ‘THE HERBAL GARDEN’ at Actors’ Summit

‘THE HERBAL GARDEN’ runs through March 6 at AS, tucked
away in downtown Hudson.  For tickets call
330-342-0800.

Actor’s Summit’s next production will be “SHE STOOPS
TO CONQUER,” running from March 31 to April 17.


TOM AND SUSANA EVERT DANCE THEATRE

Husband-wife duo Tom and Susana Evert will perform a
series of their classic modern dance works at the
Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland on Friday March 4
at 8 PM.  Member tickets are available at the door for
$10 with a $15 charge being made for non-members.  
MOCA is located in the Cleveland Play House Square
complex.

‘THE EXONERATED’ AT DOBAMA

An excellent production of ‘THE EXONERATED’ continues
at Dobama Theatre, 1846 Coventry Road through March 6.
 For tickets call 216-932-3396.


=====
Roy Berko's web page can be found at www.royberko.info.  His theatre and dance reviews appear on NeOHIOpal, an on-line source.   To subscribe to this free service via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.fredsternfeld.com/mailman/listinfo/neohiopal.


		
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