[NEohioPAL] Berko review: TITUS A GRAND AND GORUY ROCK-MUSICAL @ CPT

[Roy Berko]

*********************************Bloody, gory TITUS A GRAND GORY ROCK
MUSICAL continues CPT's off-the-beaten-path journey*

Roy Berko
(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

Since he became the artistic director of Cleveland Public Theatre, Raymond
Bobgan has set a clear path.  He has organized a theatre that centers on
practicality.  It lives within its means, is well organized and is
artistically creative.  The play productions respond to "the political
events, societal movements and new technology."  It has a spiritual mission
that places "high value on truth, even if that truth cannot be easily
packaged or explained."

When a theatre's Artistic Director selects a script to produce, s/he
usually does so with the venue's audience in mind.  Bobgan knows his
audiences well.  They tend to be young, hip, to crave creativity, like
off-beat materials, and are loyal to CPT's mission.   No Arthur Miller,
"JOSEPH AND HIS TECHNICAL DREAMCOAT," or "SUNSHINE BOYS,' grace the CPT
stage.  They aren't competing with Cleveland Play House, Great Lakes
Theatre, Beck Center or Dobama.

One of Bobgan's "things" is devised theatre.  Experiences that are
developed based on a theme through director, cast and creative team working
together.  He also is not afraid to produce untested shows.  His audiences
tend to be fine with shows that aren't completely polished or challenge
traditional formats.  As he says, "The CPT style of theater is really
wide," off the beaten path.

It should come as no surprise, therefore, that for a musical, CPT is
presenting the world premiere of "TITUS A GRAND AND GORY ROCK MUSICAL,"
conceived and directed by Craig J. George, with music by Dennis Yurich and
Alison Garrigan, with orchestrations and arrangements by Brad Wyner.

"TITUS . . . MUSICAL," is based on William Shakespeare's first tragedy,
"TITUS ANDRONICUS."  It is classified as one of his revenge plays and was
very popular throughout the sixteenth century.   It tells a fictitious tale
of the latter days of the Roman Empire, when revenge, inner battles for the
country's leadership, and low moral levels were in vogue.  It is
undoubtedly one of the Bard's most violent works, also one of his most
maligned.

Many historians believe that it was the lack of morals that led to the fall
of Rome.  If TITUS is any example of the goings on, there can be no doubt
of the lack of ethics and respect for human life. "TITUS ANDRONICUS," as
well as the musical take-off of the script, ends with almost everyone dead,
and bodies and body parts littering the stage.

In brief, the king of the Roman Empire has died.  After his body is dumped
into a pit below the apron of the stage, a battle rages for his crown.  His
sons want it, the Queen wants her brother, Titus, to take it, Titus doesn't
want it.  In the path to leadership, there is graphic violence...rape,
beheadings, the ripping out of guts and tongues.  Yes, as one of the lines
of the play expounds, "We will have vengeance, there will be blood!"

Why do such a play?  Why spend the years of work to write a musical that
has seemingly little redeeming value?  Unfortunately, the play reeks of
"now."  Think of the of the name calling and lack of civility toward the
nation's President.  The South still can't get over losing "the war of
Northern Aggression" (the Civil War),  civil rights for Blacks, Gays and
women are often given lip service, if that.  The US attacked Iraq on false
pretenses to seemingly satisfy the ego-centric needs of the then country's
elected leaders.

Is the tale of TITUS not a story that echoes the sounds and actions of
today without the actual ripping out of tongues and slicing off of limbs?

"TITUS . . . MUSICAL," is neither a polished or well designed musical, but
that probably doesn't matter to the CPT faithful.  It does incite the
emotions, speaks to felt thoughts and needs of many in the targeted
audience, and can excite and insight the viewers.

The night I saw the show, the audience was rocking and laughing.  Rocking
with the overly loud music which drowned out the lyrics and laughing at the
blood spurting, limbs being separated from bodies, the overacting and
screaming of many of the cast, and the overblown farce.  But, those
actions,  which would have been negatives in a traditional production, all
worked for the intent and purpose of this script.

Dana Hart, agonized properly as the well-meaning, but put-upon Titus. Amiee
Collier effectively plays it straight as the widow queen.  Her "Treature"
was tenderly sung.  Allison Garrigan reveled in the part of Tamora, the
evilest of the evil.  The rest of cast all fulfilled their violent
over-blown parts.

Martin Céspedes' minalist choreography was well conceived and visually
highlighted stage actions.  Todd Krispinsky's scaffold-leveled set, with
Roman columns and influences, worked well, allowing for maniacal action.
Jenniver Sparano's multi-generational costumes, which combined sneakers
with Roman sandals, and togas with jeans and t-shirts, helped blend the
modernity with ancient times. Ben Gantose's lighting effects, especially
the abundant use of red spots and floodlights, helped heighten the gore.

Brad Wyner's musical direction was appropriate for a rock concert, but,
this was a musical play in which the audience should have wanted to hear
the lyrics.  But the lack of hearing the words didn't seem to bother many
in the audience, especially a woman in the corner of the most upper level
of the seats, who screamed, whistled and clapped to near exhaustion after
every musical interlude.

*Capsule judgment:  TITUS A GRAND AND GORY ROCK-MUSICAL is definitely a
production that will not be appreciated by everyone.  It should satisfy the
targeted CPT audience who will rock out with the music, appreciate the
present political implications of the message, and give it standing
ovations for its gutsy creativity.*

"TITUS A GRAND AND GORY ROCK-MUSICAL" continues at Cleveland Public Theatre
until March 22, 2014.  For tickets call 216-631-2727 or go to
www.cptonline.org

********************************
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.neohiopal.org/pipermail/neohiopal-neohiopal.org/attachments/20140311/cb7bd057/attachment.htm>