Provincetown Tennessee Williams 12th
Annual
Theater Festival – Day 2
The Gnadiges
Fraulein
Texas Tech University
Ten Blocks on
the Camino Real
National Theatre of Ghana
Pericles
Die-Cast
September 23, 2017
 |
| Photo courtesy of Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theater Festival |
I
was able to attend the Provincetown Tennessee Williams 12th Annual Theater Festival for only two of the four days.
During that time I was able to see five shows and a lecture on Tennessee
Williams. The experience was
revitalizing and inspiring. On my second
day I encountered a broader variety of theatre companies from different points
on the map.
 |
| The Gnadiges Fraulein Photo courtesy of Texas Tech University |
The
Texas Tech University production of The
Gnadiges Fraulein was absurd, fast paced, bawdy, and highly
disturbing. Director Jef Hall-Flavin
found the pace, style, and timing to keep the audience amused, allowing
Tennessee Williams’ darker themes of unrequited love and self-deprivation to
creep in and change the tone for a potent ending. Rachel Hirshorn and Anthea Thompson had great
chemistry as Molly and Polly. Francine
Segal was haunting as Fraulein. The
production design was comical and over the top, while the color scheme of
black, white, and shades of gray added a layer of seriousness that allowed for
a smooth transitioned into the darker ending.
 |
| Ten Blocks on the Camino Real Photo courtesy of The National Theatre of Ghana |
Hurricane
Jose lightened up so the National Theatre of Ghana’s production of Ten Blocks on the Camino Real was able
to be played outdoors as scheduled.
Director David Kaplan’s rendition of this challenging Tennessee Williams
play was grounded in the cultural colors and rhythms of Ghana, transforming the
emotional challenges of the main character, Kilroy (played by Isaac Flagbor) into
a mystical and spiritual journey. The
cast of eleven worked as a solid ensemble filling the open, outdoor space with
energy, transporting the audience into the world of the play.
 |
| Pericles Photo courtesy of Die-Cast |
Shakespeare’s
Pericles was presented by Die-Cast, a
new company out of Philadelphia. The
show was staged on a life size model of a clipper ship on the second floor of
the Provincetown Library. Director Brena
Geffers used striking ensemble movement and resilient breath work to weave the
tale of this lesser known Shakespeare work.
The cast played multiple roles lead by Keith Conallen as Pericles, Chris
Anthony as Gower, and Hannah Van Sciver as Marina.
This
was my first time attending the Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theater Festival, and I am already looking forward to next year. The variety of theatre professionals and
artists presenting high quality work clearly defines the magnitude of vision
and expertise of this organization. If
you have not attended in the past, I recommend checking out their website (http://twptown.org/) for upcoming
news.
Domenick Danza
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