v4n27-desire.html

Decadence, desire in the Gilded Age

By Rebecca Brown, On-line Forty-Niner
April 21,1998


Cal Rep's 'Mr. Kean' shows entertainment has changed little

In the last few centuries, the business of entertainment has changed little.

The California Repertory Company proves this in its production of Charles Higham's comedy "His Majesty, Mr. Kean," adapted from "Kean" by Alexandre Dumas.

The play unfurls a keen wit as the plot travels at an excitingly dizzying pace, showing how Kean's (Matthew Southwell) infamous status as an actor gives him the privilege of romantically manipulating every woman that he comes into contact with.

Edmund Kean, one of England's most adored and well-known theatrical artists, was notorious for his love of drink and womanizing.

His plans were often embroiled in the social undoing of more than one prominent lady in England's high society during the early 1800s.

Kean becomes entangled in a web of gossip, adultery and a mastermind plan of manipulation in order to free himself of imprisonment from a series of debts.

His bandwagon of leading ladies, including the Duchess Clarissa (Jennifer Fowler) and the enterprising American Anna Candy (Katie Johnson), struggles valiantly to free Kean from persecution by the Prince of Wales (Davis Mejia).

The entire cast displays incredible talent in not only the fast-paced dialogue but in perfecting the mannerisms and affected English accent that are synonymous with the Gilded Age.

The set includes an enormous gilt-framed mirror that faces the audience, numerous frilly pillows and trap doors that the actors spontaneously pop out of from time to time.

The acrobatics of Pistol (Michael Pando) lend a surprising and impressive element to the play.

Pando often does somersaults and back-flips, and swings high from the rafters of the theater, all of which livens up the performance and conveys the energy and spontaneity he constantly delivers.

"His Majesty, Mr. Kean" will play through Saturday, May 9 at the Cal Rep Theatre.

It will be held on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. On April 25 and May 2 there will be Saturday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 and are available at the Arts Ticket Office.