Fanciful costumes, machinations for power, predictions of impending doom and the sordid affairs of British royalty. What more could one ask for from a play? Mask and Bauble’s third production of the season, The Apple Cart, is an updated take on playwright George Bernard Shaw’s vision of the future. Don’t expect any flying spaceships though; this story is actually all about politics.
Director Nate Kleinman (SFS ‘04) has adapted the play by changing the storys setting from the 1970s to the year 2045. In a political intrigue convoluted enough to please any SFS student, King Magnus of England, Michal Slaby (CAS ‘04), struggles to prevent his cabinet of ministers from taking away what little power he wields. The play is punctuated by Communist propaganda, delivered by Shaw himself, played by Melisa Breiner-Sanders (CAS ‘04).
Overall, the players’ performances are excellent. Slaby does a particularly good job maintaining a commanding, regal presence; the audience never forgets that he is the king. The Prime Minister, played by John Hebdan (CAS ‘04), excellently portrays his desire for complete power over the king. Kristine Johanson (SFS ‘04) wonderfully acts out Lysistrata’s pain in being unable to follow what she truly believes in. The humorous characters of Boananges, played by Joe Gallagher (CAS ‘04) and Amanda, an endearing Kat Cox (CAS ‘04) provide comedy while at the same giving dimension to their respective characters.
Costume designer and Voice staffer Christie Hauser (CAS ‘06) let her imagination fly when creating the futuristic costumes. The characters’ outfits range from old-fashioned garb, such as the King’s costume, to clothes that seem more suited to a raver than a minister or secretary.
Apparently, the preferred hairstyle of future politicians and royalty entails copious amounts of glitter and neon-colored hairspray. The costume of the King’s mistress Orinthia, played by Tara Marie Dankel (GRD ‘04), is similar to a toga-one that could do with a little bit more cloth and reinforcement.
The best use of costumes is undoubtedly that of Balbus/Pliny, played by Eric Weiss (CAS ‘06) and Nicobar/Crassus, an amusing Ted Wold (CAS ‘05). To distinguish the difference betweeen his two different personalities, the actor’s costume is asymmetrical and his hair is styled differently on each side. While Wold’s two personalities are more subtle, Weiss’ extreme exaggeration is necessary in order to understand their split-personalities, which are well acted and extremely entertaining.
All the characters, save one, speak in a British accent. While some manage to carry it off quite well, others do not. One thing that’s more entertaining than a British accent is a British accent attempted and barely achieved.
The one character not using a British accent, Ambassador Vanhattan, played by Sally Richardson (CAS ‘04), hams up her role by using a ridiculous accent from everyone’s favorite state, Texas.
Although George Bernard Shaw’s communist leanings appear only in his own speeches throughout the play, his intent to show the futility of fair government in the presence of big business is apparent. The audience realizes that although Shaw may be an ardent communist, his main problem is not with the political structure of democracy, but with the inherently greedy nature of capitalist society.
Despite being about three hours in length, Mask & Bauble’s production of The Apple Cart is a play that anyone with even the slightest interest in politics would enjoy.
The Apple Cart is showing in Poulton Hall from Jan. 15 to the 17 and from the 21 to the 24. Each show begins at 8 p.m. and tickets can be purchased in the Leavey Center, $9 general admission and $6 for students.
