‘Cathedral’ mystery impresses

The co-directors are to be
commended for their work.

By MILAN PAURICH

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

YOUNGSTOWN — “Well, it’s certainly not ‘Beckett’!,” the elderly woman sitting behind me groused to her companion at the end of “Murder in the Cathedral” on Thursday night.

This latest production of YSU’s University Theater may share the same basic storyline and characters as Jean Anoulih’s “Beckett” — immortalized in the Oscar-nominated 1964 film adaptation starring Peter O’Toole and Richard Burton — but T.S. Eliot’s verse play is an altogether different theatrical experience.

For starters, “Murder in the Cathedral” owes more to classical Greek tragedy than it does to “well-made” plays like “Beckett” that packed them in on Broadway during the early 1960s. If you know that going in, and adjust your expectations accordingly, you’ll have a much easier time of it. (Apparently the lady quoted above was unable, or unwilling, to make such concessions.)

Some understanding

It’s easy to see why “Cathedral” is better known as literature than as drama. Eliot was more of a poet than a playwright, and this 1935 work is probably best appreciated as a written text than as a staged performance. All of the dialogue is expository, the performances are deliberately exclamatory — there’s precious little interaction between fellow actors — and having “The Women of Canterbury” serve as the play’s Greek Chorus adds yet another alienating effect for contemporary audiences.

As sheer spectacle, however, the University Theater production is an impressive achievement. Certainly the choice of St. John’s Episcopal Church as the play’s venue adds immeasurably to the experience. The costume design (by W. Rick Schilling, who co-directed with Dennis Henneman) is superb, as is Todd Dicken’s artfully stripped-down scenic design.

Also providing invaluable assistance are music directors Vince Basile and David Munnell (YSU student Basile composed part of the liturgical-style score) and the Dana Recorder Choir.

There are some drawbacks to such a site-specific location, unfortunately. Sightlines are poor, the wooden pews aren’t particularly comfortable and the acoustics in St. John’s sanctuary leave a lot to be desired. And while it couldn’t have been easy to light a church for a theatrical performance, John Murphy’s otherwise laudable lighting design never completely overcomes that artistic hurdle.

Set entirely within Canterbury Cathedral, Eliot’s historical drama depicts the final days of Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Beckett (Ryan Bissett, very good), climaxing with his execution by four of King Henry II’s knights in December 1170. Much of the play’s two-hour-plus running time is devoted to Beckett’s personal struggles (spiritual, political, humanity versus divinity, et al) as visions materialize before him in the form of “tempters.” Providing moral support to Beckett in his darkest hour are four priests (David Mummell, Vijay Welch, Randall Brammer and most impressively Arcale Peace), all of whom are powerless to stop the inevitable bloodbath that lies ahead.

The cast

Four actors (Nathan Beagle, Brian Peters, Zachary Campbell and the outstanding Brandon Smith) play dual roles as the king’s knights/executioners and Beckett’s tempters/conscience.

Henneman and Schilling are to be commended for making this a lot less confusing than it sounds, and some of their tableaux-like effects — particularly with the seven Women of Canterbury — have such a stark beauty that I wish I could have seen them better from my pew.

No, “Murder in the Cathedral” isn’t a juicy, old-fashioned melodrama like “Beckett.”

But there’s a lot to admire here (including Henneman and Schilling’s prodigious level of ambition and some very strong performances by an all-student cast) if you’re willing to meet it halfway.

X“Murder in the Cathedral” will be performed weekends through Oct. 14 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 323 Wick Ave., Youngstown. Curtain times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 3 p.m. Sundays. Each performance will be followed by a discussion of the play’s themes and issues led by various campus and community leaders. Call (330) 941-3105 for tickets.