She: Immortal Witch-Queen of a Lost World at Bryant Lake Bowl on 11/7/09
By: Janet Preus
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“She: Immortal Witch-Queen of a Lost World,” is based on the 19th century novel by H. Rider Haggard, a prolific and popular author in his day. Hardcover Theater’s quirky adaptation takes the audience on a fantasy adventure to Africa, complete with cannibals and mummies, all part of a native culture that lives underground and is ruled by a fantastically beautiful woman with supernatural powers. Oh, and she’s 2,000 years old. She is waiting to be reunited with her (very) long lost love. Three Englishman—L. Horace Holly (David Tufford),) Job (Tim Uren) and Leo Vincey (Cody Sorenson)—are seeking her in order to fulfill Leo’s father’s dying wish. Does that clear things up?
Actually, the story turns out to be a dandy excuse to showcase Hardcover’s delightful ability to create something out of nothing but the actors’ and director’s imaginations. The set consisted of a plain black box, which never moved. That was it. (Honestly, I think they should have had two props – the ‘casket,’ or box containing Leo’s secret legacy, and the magic ring, but that would have been quite enough.)
Clearly, the fun in this sweeping adventure, played out on a tiny, black stage, was the ease with which we are transported from one place and circumstance to another with none of the self-awareness that often besmirches actors who are ‘acting.’ The device to have the actors narrate their own actions kept the story clipping along, one step ahead of where our heads were going, and delivering visual gags at such a pace that I forgot all about the half-full glass of wine sitting in front of me.
Besides being a textbook lesson in creative dramatics, it was a whole lot of fun. I was transported back to the days when I lounged in the loft at the cabin, reading battered old comic books. This play was a clever enactment of those little squares of fantastic activity that march across a comic book page—well-costumed characters, their impossible dilemmas, sharp, offhand quips and unflappable focus on achieving a clear-cut goal.
The story sort of falls apart at the end with the return of Ustane (Marit Geston) who works her revenge on the competing She, or Ayesha (Roneet Aliza Rahamim). But did we ever really care precisely why things ended as they did on the last page of a comic book?
Paul Rutledge and Mike Davidovich complete the highly capable and versatile cast. She runs through November 22. Curtain times are a little odd and vary so check ahead.
Location Info:
Bryant Lake Bowl
Artist Info: Hardcover Theater
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