The Balcony is worth seeing.
Larry Smith <larrysmile <at> yahoo.com>
2007-12-13 08:45:49 GMT
Strong acting performances are offered to local area
theatre patrons by the Station Theatres cast of
French novelist and political activist Jean Genets
1956 play, The Balcony, directed by Eric Burton.
Only three performances remain - December 13, 14, and
15, 2007 at 8:00 p.m.
Irma, strongly performed by Joi Hoffsommer, is the
Madame of a special brothel known as a house of
illusions where her clients act out their erotic
fantasies. Carmen (Heather Dore Johnson) assists her
in running this house while they watch the intimacies
going on in the bedroom over a closed circuit
television system. Outside, also through closed
circuit television, we continuously observe the
citizens of the country revolting against their
government.
As the play opens we are introduced to three such
patrons engaged in playing out their fantasies. Eric
Sizemore is a citizen who fashions himself as the
countrys Bishop and comes to the house to wear
bishops clothing while engaged in his bedroom antics.
He is attended to by, the Woman, Lindsey Markel.
John Chandlers fantasy is to be the countrys Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court. He dons a judges robe
for his fantasy while hearing the case of a prisoner -
thief played by Cynthia Cobb. Aaron Matthew Polk
enters the bedroom and role-plays his fantasy as an
Army General while treating Emily Richardson as his
slave pony.
While the revolution is going on outside the brothel,
Madame Irma awaits the arrival of the Chief of Police
(Rien Rogers), a personal friend, and one who
affords Irma and her house police protection.
The arrival of the Queens Envoy (Matthew Fear)
verifies the situation of the country. The Queen of
the country has come up missing due to the revolution
and the three major leaders of the country have all
been killed. The Chief of Police devises a plan to
reassure the people and halt the revolution. The
customers of the brothel will appear in public
imitating those key governmental figures that have
been killed. Additionally, Madame Irma will portray
the Queen and with the appearance of these four, the
revolution will be halted and the position of the
Chief of Police will take on significant political
power.
Chantal, (Colleen Klein) becomes the embodiment of the
spirit of the revolution along with Roger (Mathew
Green) who gives an engaging performance as a leader
of the revolution.
Lincoln Machula turns in a solid performance as the
Executioner in the Judge scene as well as Madame
Irmas loyal client solicitor, Arthur.
The cast is rounded out by multiple roles of Mikel L.
Matthews, Collin A. Bullock, and Josh Freeman whom
appear as revolutionaries, a beggar, and
photographers.
In the end, the role-playing of the brothel clients
with Madame Irma as the Queen restores order and
governmental authority. However, their prior,
non-public life has now become woven into a tapestry
of continuing to impersonate the former deceased
politicos.
The play was made into a movie in 1963 starring such
well-known actors as Shelley Winters, Peter Falk, Lee
Grant, Ruby Dee, Leonard Nimoy, Kent Smith, Joyce
Jameson, Peter Brocco, Jeff Corey, and Arnette Jens.
Due to the mature subject matter and certain womens
costuming, I recommend this play for adults and teens,
which understand the facts of life. All will enjoy
the powerful performances by this fine cast of actors.
Larry Smith
Rantoul Theatre Group
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