Love's Labours' Lost

From: "will stackman" profwlll@yahoo.com

Subject: Quicktake - "Love’s Labour’s Lost" by Wm. Shakespeare

Date: Wed, May 17, 11:50 PM

Quicktake on LOVE”S LABOUR”S LOST

     The most innovative staging during the Huntington’s Theatre Company’s current production of Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labour’s Lost”, directed by Nicholas Martin, happens up in a tree. There’s also the Princess of France’s yatch, seen as a cut-out floating against the background. On the other hand, the opening set which features a huge chiascuro backdrop of the King’s library looming over a long table tends to overwhelm almost everything that happens under its immanence. Thus the four gentlemen, the King of Navarre and his companions, Dumaine, Longaville, and Berowne, start off at a disadvantage which only Noah Bean as Berowne manages to overcome. Their future loves however arrive on said yatch with a good deal of useful luggage. Their set, designed by Alexander Dodge, and the background for most of the play is the afore-mentioned monumental tree, which moves across the stage as needed.
     The ladies, like the gents are costumed in turn of the last century pale upper-class garmsents, in the best BBC late-Victorian mode, which makes them rather indistinguishable, except perhaps for Berowne’s partner, Rosaline, played by Zabyna Guevra. This pair, proto- Beatrice and Benedick come closest to creating the romantic aura necessary to make this overly poetic show work. As it is, the comic characters, notably Will LeBow as the fantastical Spaniard, Don Armado, from the King’s court. and Neil A. Casey, as Lord Boyet, the Princess’ chamberlain, more or less steal the show. They’re joined by Robert Jason Jackson as Holofernes, the schoolmaster, and Bill Mootos as Sir Nathaniel, the curate. Jeremy Beck as the Don’s page. Moth, has to overcome his Little Lord Fauntleroy suit but has his moments. particularly as the infant Hercules. And for the really low comedy there’s Peter Zachari as Dull the constable pursuing Costard, the clown in overalls, played by Tommy Schrider, and his main squeeze, Jaquanetta, the buxom dairymaid, played by Elisa Bocanegra. She’s also been carrying on with the Don, with the inevitable result as the show’s comic climax. The costumes for the comedians are much more interesting than the bland whites and beiges worn by the four prime couples.
     The show is enlivened by an original score based on ragtime and music hall tunes, played live. LeBow even gets to play the number which opens the second half, ably performed by Beck. All-in-all, it’s a pleasant production with high production values and respectable performances. There’s just not much development and only Berowne and the Don are consistantly memorable. There will be two more community productionms of this show in the suburbs this summer. The comparison will be interesting.

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"Love’s Labour’s Lost" by Wm. Shakespeare, May 12 - JUNE 11

Huntington Theatre Co. at B.U.Theatre

294 Huntington Ave. (617) 266 - 0800
HTC