Emily L. Gibson and Eddie Vona (Photos by Lucia Ledoux)
Reviewed by Asa Fris
Coeurage Theater Ensemble at King’s Park
Through September 21
RECOMMENDED
Coeurage Theater Ensemble’s production of Pericles is fun, and full of heart. This immersive theater experience has some slight hiccups, but all the same delivers lovely storytelling.
Pericles follows our namesake’s journey from prince to aged king. It’s a tale full of romance, danger, grief, and magic. Shakespeare’s expansive play features royalty, assassins, fisherman, sailors, pirates, brothel owners, and more. That’s all quite a lot on its own, let alone when it’s packed into a 90-minute rendering. Yet this cut manages to convey it all clearly, and even spares room for dances and sea shanties.
The main focus of the production is on its immersive qualities: teaching the audience to sing sea shanties, giving them flags to cheer on pirates and knights, or even encouraging them to make sound effects for ocean waves and storms. To further immerse the audience in the play, director Amanda McRaven has staged Pericles in the round, with performers playing in front of and behind the audience. It evokes a ‘playing on the playground’ quality that supports much of the play’s aesthetic. However, this means performers are often far away or hidden behind trees or even right behind your back, and the choice becomes more of a hindrance than a help for the story.
If one sentiment were to tie the production together it would be ‘playing in the park.’ Directorial choices emphasize this, and support a silly lightness throughout. Jousting bouts are replaced with rock paper scissor games and a staring contest. And brothel workers have New Jersey accents which are ridiculous but feel perfect. The whole ensemble seems to be having a lot of fun, with a particular nod to Ted Barton and Donna Simone Johnson. Barton fills the space with every line, and he is a riot as one of the brothel owners. And Johnson offers incredible vulnerability as Pericles, especially given the very public nature of the park.
Additionally, the cast executes several moments of heightened sensitivity and tenderness. At times, the noise of the city can distract from these sequences, but that’s only a small grievance. Another small hiccup ensues from the speaker system which skipped frequently whenever music was played, sometimes in these tender moments.
Costume and prop designer Kyla McCracken finds a lot of success in simplicity. Colors are used to distinguish one kingdom from another, and small details, like increasing the amount of fabric a kingdom wears after they are saved from famine, might not be flashy, but encapsulates the straightforward but well thought out storytelling you’ll find throughout the production.
Coeurage Theatre, Kings Road Park, 1006 N. Kings Rd., West Hollywood. Opens Sat., Sept. 6; Sat.-Sun., 4 pm; thru Sept. 21. FREE. Running time approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.
