{"id":246661,"date":"2013-10-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-10-26T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sdnews.com\/a-prodigious-talent\/"},"modified":"2013-10-26T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2013-10-26T07:00:00","slug":"a-prodigious-talent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/a-prodigious-talent\/","title":{"rendered":"A prodigious talent"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2018Tallest Tree\u2019 an enchanting theatrical climb at La Jolla Playhouse<\/p>\n

Por Charlene Baldridge | Cr\u00edtico de Teatro SDUN <\/p>\n

Playwright and performer Daniel Beaty believes the solo form highlights the magic of storytelling. He puts his talent where his mouth is, writing and performing the new solo play \u201cThe Tallest Tree in the Forest,\u201d continuing at La Jolla Playhouse through Nov. 3. It is a shared production with Kansas City Repertory Theatre.<\/p>\n

Portraying civil-rights activist, singer and actor Paul Leroy Robeson, Beaty\u2019s magic is so powerful that the mind becomes convinced there is another actor who portrays Robeson\u2019s wife in the one-man script. Looking in the program however, the playgoer realizes her thorough enchantment with the strongest of Beaty\u2019s additional portrayals: Robeson\u2019s wife, Eslanda (Essie).<\/p>\n

\"<\/a>

Daniel Beaty as Paul Leroy Robeson (Photo by Don Ipock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite the character\u2019s frequent sexual conquests (among them his \u201cOthello\u201d leading ladies Peggy Ashcroft in London and Uta Hagen on Broadway), Robeson and Essie\u2019s enduring love story provides the playwright an exceptionally touching moment near the end of the play. The plot sweeps onlookers from Robeson\u2019s childhood, through his football days and law school, into his international film and stage career as a singer and performer, to his 1950 testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee.<\/p>\n

Robeson said: \u201cThe artist must take sides. He must choose to fight for freedom or for slavery. I have made my choice. I had no alternative.\u201d<\/p>\n

The choice of Beaty and director Mois\u00e9s Kaufman of Tectonic Theater Project, which originally commissioned and developed the work, is to charge into Robeson\u2019s lifelong political and social activism without flinching, knowing that his viewpoints were so controversial that the famous man became almost invisible in the history books.<\/p>\n

Presented extensively, these activist scenes veer closely to tedium, and it is only Beaty\u2019s prodigious talent that keeps the play from falling into the pit of preachy.<\/p>\n

\"Daniel<\/a>
Daniel Beaty (Photo by Don Ipock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The music too, helps avoid this potential catastrophe. Beaty, who is a classically trained singer, performs some of the Robeson songs, among them \u201cOl\u2019 Man River,\u201d \u201cBallad for the Americans,\u201d and the spirituals \u201cSteal Away,\u201d \u201cGo Down Moses\u201d and \u201cDidn\u2019t My Lord Deliver Daniel.\u201d He is accompanied by music director and conductor Kenny J. Seymour on piano, John Reilly on woodwinds, and Jennifer Epler on cello.<\/p>\n

I must admit to being conflicted over the amplification of Beaty\u2019s voice, both spoken and sung. Granted there are those moments in big arenas where the sound should be so aggrandized, however, Beaty\u2019s voices possess such point and buzz\u2014the technical term is \u201csquillo\u201d\u2014that amplification merely underscores the vocal production, making it fall not always euphoniously on the ear.<\/p>\n

Robeson had a natural, unaffected bass-baritone; Beaty\u2019s natural voice lies much higher. All this having been said, however, Beaty\u2019s performance is so spellbinding overall that such imperfections may be overlooked.<\/p>\n

Scenic designer Derek McLane provides an all purpose backstage area with several playing levels. It\u2019s roughly textured, specific and cluttered, yet it provides plenty of surface area for John Narun\u2019s effective historic projections.<\/p>\n

Clint Ramos provides Robeson\u2019s wardrobe, principally a three-piece suit and Othello rags. David Lander is lighting designer and Lindsay Jones, sound designer.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Tallest Tree in the Forest\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

WHERE: La Jolla Playhouse, 2910 La Jolla Village Dr. (La Jolla)<\/p>\n

WHEN: Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 p.m., Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m. through Nov. 3<\/p>\n

INFO: 858-550-1010<\/p>\n

WEB: lajollaplayhouse.org<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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