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Spear Ensemble Theatre



Last Updated: 12/11/2009

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Status: Single
City: San Francisco
State: California
Country: US
Signup Date: 3/30/2007
Friday, April 13, 2007 
The following is an excerpt of a review of Spear Ensemble Theatre's production of Titus Andronicus by Denise Battista.  The full text is available at shakespeare-revue.com

I was initially disturbed that Saturninus (Tony Grat) was not on stage; but rather, he was pre-recorded on a 52-inch flat screen upstage right. He and his words are as flat as the screen, and I don't understand the rhyme or reason of this media tactic, but it did provide some much-needed attention to timing. The actors speak to Grat's image as though he is really there, and they interact with it in some interesting ways. After the Romans feast on poor Chiron and Demitrius, and after Titus slays Lavinia and Tamora, Dorsey takes his place at this grand feast opposite Grat and devours a bit of boy pie. Grat, on screen, throws a knife forward. Dorsey is "hit" and dies. The timing was impeccable and I was impressed. This televised genius takes hold earlier in the production, as well, when Dorsey as Aaron appears on the screen to help Dorsey as Titus upon the stage chop off his own hand. It is beautifully directed and executed.

I was also pleased with the chemistry between Daniel K. Lai and G. Randall Wright as Chiron and Demitrius. Their many fight scenes are well done, and although they are masked, their emotion is not lost. Their death scene is brilliant and acrobatic, and something I have never seen. Lai stands upright on the stage with another actor behind him while Wright performs a handstand to Lai's left and is lifted to the upper stage. He remains upside down and facing the audience, leaning on the back of another actor. Dorsey then slices their throats with ease. This all happens with a gracefulness that opposes the nature of the scene, and it works like a charm. Sometimes simplicity equals perfection.
2:41 AM
 
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