[NEohioPAL] Berko review: ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL (GLTF)

[Roy Berko]

‘Alls’ not well at Great Lakes Theatre Festival

Roy Berko
(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--
Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
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--COOLCLEVELAND.COM—


‘ALLS WELL THAT END’S WELL,’ which is now in
production at the 
Great Lakes Theatre Festival, is one of Shakespeare’s
lesser known plays.  Besides its lack of compelling
plot, the script has a reputation for being an
“unlucky play.”  In one of its first productions, the
actor playing the female lead fainted and had to be
replaced, mid-show. Then the actor playing the king
fainted and subsequently died.   Other productions
have also met with strange happenings. 

As far as I know, GLTF's production hasn’t met with
any tragedies, but the staging isn’t exactly filled
with life and vim.  In fact, it is plodding,
uninspired and generally flat. 

‘ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL,’ is classified as a
comedy, though it is probably a Bard problem
play
.neither tragedy nor comedy.  It is also one of
Shakespeare’s least produced plays.  It simply does
not have the power of such work’s as ‘HAMLET, and
‘MACBETH’ nor the delight of ‘MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S
DREAM.’ 

The story concerns Helena, the orphan daughter of a
famous physician, who is the ward of the Countess of
Rousillon.  She is hopelessly in love with Count
Bertram, the Countess’ son.  When the handsome and
charismatic Bertram is sent to the court of the King
of France, Helena is crestfallen. Despite her beauty
and goodness, Helena has no hope of attracting him
since she is of low birth and he is a nobleman.
However, when word comes that the King is ill, she
goes to Paris and, using her father's medicines, she
cures the malady. In return, she is given the hand of
any man in the realm.  Of course, she chooses Bertram.
Her new husband is appalled at the match, and  after
their unconsummated marriage flees France.  And, as
the convoluted plot develops, we know in advance that
everything will be all right, as all’s well that ends
well.

‘ALL’S WELL,’ which is directed by GLTF’s artistic
director Charles Fee, is a disappointment.  Fee, who
is noted for his over the top attitude when it comes
to overblown farce, fails to turn on the jets in this
production.  The farce isn’t farcical, the comedy
isn’t comedic, the drama isn’t dramatic.  The one
saving grace is that the languid pace does allow the
audience to clearly hear each  word.

The cast is generally weak.  Markus Potter doesn’t
seem to have the dramatic chops for bringing life to
Bertram who is supposed to be charismatic, imbued with
leadership talents and is a dominating physical
figure.  None of these characteristics were present in
Potter’s performance.

Sara Brunner has some good moments as Helena, but is
several steps away from developing a special young
woman who inspires our desires for her to succeed in
her quest.  Much of the performance was on the
surface.

Though amusing, David Anthony Smith, who I must admit
is one of my favorite GLTF players, didn’t have fun
with Parolles, the over-exaggerating liar and buffoon.
 The same with Jeffrey Hawkins, who has become the
company’s “player of clowns.”  He threw away lines
that should have been funny and feigned prat falls.

Countess Rossillion,  is one of the few good roles for
an older actress in the Shakespeare canon.  Modern
productions have starred  the likes of Judi Dench and
Peggy Ashcroft.  Laura Perrotta  is perfectly
acceptable in the role, but captivating, she isn’t.

The one bright shining performance is that of Aled
Davies, as the King.  He is character right!

And then there is the set.  Gage Williams’ has loaded
the smallish stage with a massive fortress that 
pushes the action so forward that the actors have
limited space to move.  The large pillars so dominate
that those of sitting  on the sides of the theatre
cant see much of the action mid to rear center  stage.
 Then there is the large box that pops up at various
times from the stage floor for no apparent reason
other than to shout, “special effect.”  What was
Williams’ thinking?

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:   It is fairly common for GLTF’s
opening night audiences to jump to their feet at the
final curtain, yelling “bravos.”  During the curtain
call of ‘ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL,’ there was polite
applause, no standing ovation and people left the
theatre talking about the rainy weather and yet
another loss by the Indians, who had just finished
their game at Progressive Field.  Those actions sum up
the production.  Want a great theatre experience ?  
See  GLTF’s mesmerizing THE CRUCIBLE!

‘ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL’ runs through  April 25 at
the Ohio Theatre in Playhouse Square in tandem with
‘THE CRUCIBLE,’ which runs through the 27th.  For
ticket information call 216-241-6000 or go to
www.greatlakestheater.org




Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 2008, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info
      
His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com and NeOHIOpal (to subscibe visit http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/neohiopal.)

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