<div dir="ltr"><b><br><br><span style="color:rgb(255,0,0)">••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••</span><br><br>Bloody, gory TITUS A GRAND GORY ROCK MUSICAL continues CPT’s off-the-beaten-path journey</b><br><br>Roy Berko<br>(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)<br>
<br>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.”<br><br>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. <br><br>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.<br><br>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.<br><br>“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.<br><br>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.<br><br>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!”<br><br>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. <br><br>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?<br><br>“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.<br><br>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.<br><br>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.<br><br>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. <br><br>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. <br><br><i>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.</i><br><br>“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 <a href="http://www.cptonline.org">www.cptonline.org</a><br><br><b><span style="color:rgb(255,0,0)">••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••</span></b><br><br><br></div>