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“EXHILARATING! Gunpowder, treason and plot! Acidly funny. Explosively succinct. There is no questioning Banksy’s art.
MAY HE VANDALIZE OUR SCREENS FOR DECADES TO COME!” NEW YORK MAGAZINE
Marin Theatre Company doesn’t beat around the bush in ‘Equivocation’ by Le e Brady
E “A SLY SATIRE of celebrity, -David Edelstein,
consumerism, and the art world!” LA TIMES -John Horn,
“JOYOUS! One of the most inspired, adroit, hilarious debut features ever!” FILM COMMENT -Amy Taubin,
“FUNNY AS HELL!” -Thessaly LaForce, THE NEW YORKER
ven if the title doesn’t give it away, it is clear that Equivocation was written by a Jesuit. The arguments are persuasive, sophisticated and ambiguous. Turns out, Bill Cain is a Jesuit priest and teacher—and a brilliant playwright. The premiere of Equivocation at Oregon Shakespeare Festival last season was a runaway hit, and promises to be just as popular with Marin Theatre Company audiences. The setting is the Globe Theatre, the hero is clearly Shakespeare and the villain is Lord Cecil—who wants William Shagspeare to write a play about the ‘Oh, that I were a glove upon that hand, that I might touch that cheek!’ famous “Gunpowder Plot.” (In 1605, Catholic zealot Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the English parlia- pulls heartstrings as the conspirator Tom and is ment with the king and all lords inside). Cecil wants a sometimes lover for the panting Judith. Director Jasson Minadakis makes it to divide the country even more, all clear on J.B. Wilson’s scaffold blaming the Catholics for the plot set as the multi-character story that would have killed the king NOW PLAYING of royal, political and theatrical and his family. Equivocation runs through intrigue is, as Shakespeare might Shag refuses, saying he’d be May 2 at the Marin Theatre say, exposed most entertainingly. hanged if he wrote such propaCompany, 397 Miller Ave., Mill ganda; Cecil assures him he’ll be Valley; 415/388-5208 www. hanged if he doesn’t. The actors marintheatre.org. ● ● ● ● at the Globe Theatre want him to Vigil runs through April 18 at o one who loves Britwrite it because it means new roles American Conservatory Theaish humor at its most tre, 415 Geary St., S.F.; 415/749to play, while actor/manager Richridiculous should miss 2228 www.act-sf.org. ard Burbage just wants to keep the Lady Be Good runs ACT’s Vigil. Marco Barricelli and theater open. Between a rock and through April 18 at the Olympia Dukakis are hysterically no place, Shag agrees, but when he Eureka Theater, 215 Jackson funny as a couple thrown togethstarts asking hard questions of CeSt., S.F.; 415/255-8207 er by imminent death (hers) and cil and an assortment of doomed www.42ndstreetmoon.org. come to terms with a reduced life Catholics, the plot thickens and (his). But it is the sensibility of the political stakes rise. Canadian writer/director Morris Hard to follow? No more than most Shakespeare plays, and Cain makes it a fun Panych and his designing partner Ken McDonald ride. Six first-rate actors take on various roles as who set the tone. McDonald’s loft is a world askew, blackouts they work on Shag’s play-in-progress. Theatrical in-jokes abound: When Shag says, “I’m trying are abundant (there are 90 scenes, some without to write a play that isn’t about revenge,” Richard words, but all are filled with significant actions); comes back with, “Writing a play is revenge—plac- Panych’s dialogue loops around to a shaggy dog ing the blame—that’s the point of writing in the story ending, and is primarily a monologue by first place!” Or, when young Sharpe asks if he can Barricelli. While Dukakis has only five lines, her be a great actor, Shag tells him, “Anyone who has silent responses are clear and affecting. It is all the looks, energy, needs approval as much as you great fun for the audience and surely a great actdo and doesn’t care about anyone but himself— ing challenge for Barricelli and Dukakis. can be a great actor.” As it happens, the six actors ● ● ● ● in this production are all great: Charles Shaw Robshow you don’t want to miss closes this inson moves up and down the emotional scale weekend. Director Chris Smith turns up as his Shag learns about politics, and even more the heat on 42nd Street Moon’s Lady Be about himself; Anna Bullard, as the playwright’s Good. With Rudy Guerro’s smart choreography, emotionally abandoned daughter, is sympathetic, despite her character’s sharp tongue. Andrew Hur- and sweet singing of Gershwin songs by the leads teau shines as the devious Lord Cecil, and doubles (Ian Simpson and Rena Wilson), the rather silly as Nate, one of the actors; Andy Murray’s Richard story of charming young siblings involved in Burbage shows muscle as the embattled manager shady situations as they pursue love and money and is forceful as the lead in scenes from Macbeth; (not in that order) bubbles like the Champagne Lance Gardner, as the priest Garnet, is the moral that flows freely and makes the evening bubble heart of the play. Garnet answers the question, along nicely. ✹ Equivocate with Lee at freshleebrady@gmail.com. “What is equivocation?” in true Jesuit fashion. But if there is a standout in this outstanding Break a leg with more theater reviews at ensemble, it is Craig Marker, who entertains as ›› pacificsun.com the vain actor, delights as the foolish King James,
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STARTS FRIDAY APRIL16 32 PACIFIC SUN APRIL 16 - APRIL 22, 2010
CHRISTOPHER B. SMITH
RAFAEL FILM CENTER
1118 4th Street, SAN RAFAEL 415-454-1222 or www.cafilm.org/rfc/index.html