Farinelli and the King

Farinelli and the King

Belasco Theatre

February 21, 2018

Photo courtesy of Farinelli and the King

Farinelli and the King pays homage to the healing power of music.  Playwright Claire Van Kampen melds historic fact with artistic vision to tell a story of how the voice of a castrati heals the soul of a suffering king.  The collaboration of designer Jonathan Fensom and director John Dove creates a regal atmosphere that beautifully frames and galvanizes the action of the story.  The cast portrays the style and rhythm that transports the audience to the royal courts of the18^th century.

King Philippe V of Spain (played by Mark Rylance) has gone mad.  His wife, Queen Isabella (played by Melody Grove), cares for him until the King’s Chief Minister (played by Edward Peel) and doctor (played by Huss Garbiya) declare the King’s mental state has become too dangerous for her to be around.  She goes to London, where she hears the famous castrati, Farinelli (played by Sam Crane and Iestyn Davies) in an opera performance.  She is moved by his singing and believes his voice can heal her husband.  She take Farinelli back to Spain.  The King is immediately healed when he hears Farinelli sing.  The King bonds with Farinelli as he discovers their commonalities, and refuses to be parted from him.  The King, his wife, and Farinelli depart on a journey into the forest where the seclusion allows them to discover a deeper purpose.

Sam Crane & Mark Rylance
Photo courtesy of Farinelli and the King

The King asks Farinelli if he is famous.  Farinelli answers, “I am not, but Farinelli is.”  The sense that Farinelli’s character is split into two identities is strongly illustrated when a second actor enters to sing the arias.  Sam Crane and Iestyn Davies have a strong connection playing these two parts of the same personality.  They have moments where they pull together as one and times where they are separate and distant.  Playwright Claire Van Kampen develops the split of the character’s identity in Act II.  The cause of his inner pain and turmoil is clearly understood and heartbreaking.

Mark Rylance as King Philippe V of Spain
Photo courtesy of Farinelli and the King

Mark Rylance is captivating as King Philippe V.  His ease and grace are masterful.  His mad scenes are humorous and explosive.  In Act II there is a childlike quality to his energy, which genuinely reflects his healing.  Again, the meticulous writing of Ms. Van Kampen reveals the experiences of the character’s childhood with his grandfather King Louis XIV of France in the Palace of Versailles that are the roots of his madness and cause for his needful camaraderie with Farinelli.

Farinelli and the King is playing at the Belasco Theatre for a limited engagement.  You only have until March 25 to experience this majestic production from London’s Shakespeare’s Globe. 

Domenick Danza