Tuesday, March 15, 2016
By Eric McCrea
The Victorian Players brought a piece of British history to the stage with “A Man For All Seasons” by Robert Bolt.
Sir Thomas More, played by Eric Kibler, was a fine upstanding man and close advisor to King Henry VIII (Christopher Haddock) in the 16th century. The king wants permission from the pope to divorce his wife, so that he may marry his mistress, Ann Boleyn.
The duty of persuading the pontiff lies with Cardinal Wolsey, played by Gary Deckant, but after his untimely death, the king must rely on someone else. As a devout Catholic, More finds himself unable to aid his sovereign in this matter. Despite pressure from his friends and colleagues, our pious knight stands fast on his decision, even as he sees his family plunged into poverty. When he is asked to sign an oath recognizing Ann’s children as legitimate heirs to the throne, More is imprisoned in the Tower of London to await the decision from the king.
Bolt uses a narrator, simply called The Common Man, to navigate through the story, changing characters as the scene requires. Vic regular Stephen Kountz filled this role, aptly serving as a witness and commentator on the historical drama. As Kountz switched from various household servants and low level officials, there isn’t much noticeable change in his delivery. While this isn’t a necessity, it could have made for a more interesting performance.
John R. Thompson returned to the Victorian Players playing Thomas Cromwell, a contemporary of More and trusted friend. While admiring the protagonist’s conscience, he pleads with his friend to put aside his morals in order to stay alive. Thompson delivered a strong, polished performance, and will hopefully be seen more often on stage.
As Sir Thomas’s wife, Lady Alice More, Terri A. Wilkes was impassioned and radiant. As her character falls from nobility, Wilkes showed decline physically, vocally and facially. Her desperation garnered sympathy, and added a great deal of humanity to a show that is bloated with historical information. As she faced the possibility of losing her husband, she broke down, shedding the uptight demeanor expected of nobility.
Haddock tackled the challenge of playing the well-known King Henry VIII with the bravado and command that he naturally exudes. Although in merely one scene, he left an impression, exemplifying the expression “there are no small roles, only small actors.”
Kibler carried much of the nearly three-hour show, having only stepped into the role shortly before opening night. His brief preparation time did not show on stage as he had no noticeable difficulties with his lines. The role itself is a bit monotonous and repetitive, but Kibler was able to create depth and amiability in More.
Any show with Henry VIII in it needs to have spectacular costumes, and the Vic did not disappoint. Designed by Marlene Menaldi-Strollo, the costumes for Lady Alice, Cardinal Wosley and Cromwell were especially detailed.
“A Man For All Seasons” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The theater is at 702 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown; for reservations, call 330-746-5455.