Britannicus
Jean Racine's drama (1669) takes place during the Emperor Nero's "golden age," a five-year period before he lost his mind. He comes within inches of Having It All: the populace adores him, and he can satisfy any whim with a wave of his scepter. Except Junia. She loves Britannicus, and the one thing the Emperor cannot have becomes an expanding aperture, through which crawls the horrific Nero of legend. Compass Theatre is staging a pared-down version of the original. The script, by Howard Rubenstein, and the production are in such a hurry that the reasons, a feeding frenzy of motives, play second fiddle to the doing. At the same time, most of the acting lacks fluidity. The cast declaims rather than speaks. The exceptions, Glynn Beddington, as Nero's scheming mother Agrippina, and Dale Morris as the backstabbing advisor Narcissus, highlight the stiff readings by contrast. As Nero, Rich Carillo relies too much on attitude. Ditto Rayardo de Murgia's Brittanicus and Jenna Selby's Junia. Brian Redfern's creamy-white, marble set has appeal, as do Abigail Hewes's period silks, tunics, and togas. Though the production leaves much to be desired, the play harkens us back to the fascinating Julio-Claudian emperors, who honored every libidinous impulse and were as dysfunctional as the Greek gods.
When
Ongoing until Sunday, November 23, 2008
Hours
| Sundays, 2pm |
| Thursdays, 8pm |
| Fridays, 8pm |
| Saturdays, 8pm |