By Charlene Baldridge
SDUN Theatre Critic
Trolleys rumble by and two men argue on the street side of the playing venue, then stumble into The Theatre, Inc., to become part of the show. It’s a modern dress production of William Shakespeare’s rarely performed “King John,” staged by Intrepid Shakespeare Company in repertory through June 6 with Shakespeare’s much-performed “Taming of the Shrew.”
Based on actual history, “King John” recounts 10 years (1206-1216) in the life of the title character, who engages in an international struggle over his right to rule. Arthur, young son of John’s deceased elder brother Geoffrey, and the Dauphin of France, who marries John’s niece, Blanche, challenge the succession. John denounces the Pope’s edict, causing his own excommunication and the breaking of a peace treaty with France, which in turn causes war between the two nations.
The most fascinating character in “King John” is fictional. He is Phillip Faulconbridge, son of John’s other deceased brother, Richard the Lionhearted. John names him Plantagenet and appoints him head of the forces opposing France.
Staged by Intrepid founders Sean Cox and Christy Yael, the production firmly establishes the heretofore-spotty young company as a prime contender among San Diego’s smaller theaters devoted to the classics. Even supporting roles, largely played by the same company as “Shrew,” are exemplary in “King John,” which stars some of the city’s most riveting actors. Among them are Cox in the plum part of Phillip, the Bastard; Tom Hall as King John; Glynn Bedington as John’s powerful mother, Elinor; the impressive young actor Austyn Myers as Arthur; and Savvy Scopelleti as Arthur’s devoted mother, Constance. Wendy Waddell performs double duty as Lady Faulconbridge and Cardinal Pandulph. Others in the large company are Danny Campbell, James Cota, Durwood Murray, Molly O’Meara, Christopher Loren Renda, Michael Salimitari, Greg Wittman and Eddie Yaroch.
Bardophiles must not miss this well-done and fascinating romp through “King John,” last produced in San Diego by the Old Globe Theatre in 1968.
Directed by a triumvirate of Cox, Yael and Jason D. Rennie, the less successful “Taming of the Shrew” nonetheless bears the distinction of same-sex lovers in Kate “the cursed” (Jenni Prisk) and the opportunistic Petruchio (Sandra Ellis-Troy), who comes to Padua in this case disguised as Petruchio, determined to “wive it wealthily.” Ellis-Troy brings off the disguise with little overt swagger, lowering her voice only when she’s afraid her ruse will be exposed. Prisk speaks the speech beautifully and one of the most touching moments in the play occurs when she tacitly observes Petruchio in an unguarded moment, realizes he is a she, and loves her anyway. It rather makes the play’s contentious conclusion go down like a spoonful of sugar.
In the main, Cox and Yael and their intrepid Intrepid thespians overcome The Theatre’s biggest challenge: high ceilings that tend to diffuse and thus muddle over loud speech.
Intrepid is dedicated to bringing the works of Shakespeare alive for modern audiences, boldly, accessibly and affordably. “King John” plays alternating in repertory with “The Taming of the Shrew.” Both works may be seen on Saturdays and Sundays through June 6, with individual performances Thursdays and Fridays.
Intrepid Shakespeare Company
at The Theatre Inc.
899 C St.
Downtown
intrepidshakespeare.com
(760) 652-5011
