SEARCH CurtainUp
REVIEWS
FEATURES
NEWS
Etcetera and
Short Term Listings
LISTINGS
Broadway
Off-Broadway
BOOKS and CDs
OTHER PLACES
Berkshires
London
LA/San Diego
Philadelphia
Elsewhere
QUOTES
On TKTS
LETTERS TO EDITOR
FILM
LINKS
MISCELANEOUS
Free Updates
Masthead
NYC Weather
Moby Dick
By Eunice Marquet
|
Drink and swear, ye men that man the deathful whaleboat's bow -- Death to
Moby Dick!
--- Ahab |
Michael Berry
(Photo: Julian Rad ) |
With the young mariner Ishmael to narrate, we follow the ill-fated whaling crew of the Pequod on their final, fateful voyage. After a lifetime of whaling, this marks the first commission for Captain, Ahab since he lost his leg in an attack by the mythical white whale known as Moby Dick. The loss of his limb has left Ahab with an all-consuming passion for vengeance. His obsessive determination to bring down the white whale turns this once respected leader into a raving madman who will stop at nothing to exact his retribution, including the willingness to risk the lives of his crew.
Traditional seafaring songs that are beautifully sung by the eight-man cast are woven throughout the story. While these songs are the most effective element of the production, at times they distract from the story itself. Christopher Kelly, who plays Ishmael, routinely resorts to yelling his monologues in order to be heard over the chorus.
Michael Berry's strong and confident portrayal of Starbuck, the First Mate is poignant and likeable. Christopher Kelly embodies the fresh and eager spirit of Ishmael. Playwright Julian Rad gives a somewhat inconsistent performance as the Native American harpooner Queequeg. William Metzo's performance as the legendary Captain Ahab should stand out but is disappointing. At times he seemed to be searching for his lines and it appears his boisterous overtures are just compensating for his lack of passion.
The prevailing problem with this Moby Dick is that it lacks blood and guts. A play that takes its characters around the world in a quest to satiate a blood lust, needs a more powerful buildup towards its climax. As directed by Hillary Adams, Moby Dick hints at the rumblings of obsession, but fails to rise to the drama of its tragic conclusion.
Any adaptation of such a well-known work of literature entails a lot of expectations. These remain unfortunately unmet by this production.
-
|
Moby Dick
Based on the novel by Herman Melville and adapted Julian Rad Directed by Hilary Adams Cast: Christopher Kelly (Ishmael), Michael Berry (Starbuck), Michael Shawn Montgomery (Stubb), Julian Rad (Queequeg), Antony Ferguson (Peleg), Joesph Melendez (Elijah), Eirik Gislason (Flask), William Metzo (Ahab) Lighting/Sound Design: Julian Rad Costume Design: Laura Crow Running time: 2 hours, one intermission Ohio Theatre, 66 Wooster St., 212/ 414-5286 9/4/03 to 9/21/03; opening 9/6/03 Tuesday through Saturday at 8PM-- $15 Reviewed by Eunice Marquet based on September 5th performance |
Mendes at the Donmar
Our Review
At This Theater
Leonard Maltin's 2003 Movie and Video Guide
Ridiculous!The Theatrical Life & Times of Charles Ludlam
Somewhere For Me, a Biography of Richard Rodgers
The New York Times Book of Broadway: On the Aisle for the Unforgettable Plays of the Last Century
6, 500 Comparative Phrases including 800 Shakespearean Metaphors by CurtainUp's editor.
Click image to buy.
Go here for details and larger image.
