By Bev Wolfe
Open Window Theatre has launched an ambitious staging of the ritualistic 15th Century morality play Everyman. This play was written during the late medieval time and it was performed frequently its first 75 years. Because the play emerged with no clear author, it has been credited to Anonymous. Though using the traditional script, director Jeremy Stanbary adds original music, movement and expressive lighting to capture the attention of a modern audience.
Everyman uses allegorical characters to tell a universal story of life, death and salvation in a material world. It is premised on the medieval Christian notion that materialism and self-indulgence makes for a poor life that leaves our souls ripe for eternal damnation. This production updates the characters of Fellowship, Kindred and Goods with modern urban archetypes: Fellowship raps, Kindred and cousins are hipsters and Goods has a rather pimpish demeanor.
The production starts out with Everyman lying on a lighted floor panel in the fetal position. Everyman grows up, indulging in drink, lust and materialism with friends. One day Death comes to tell him that it is time for his reckoning before God. Everyman tries to avoid it by asking that it be put off for 12 years. Death will not tolerate delay, but gives Everyman time to find companions to go with him to the reckoning. What follows is Everyman’s realization that nothing he valued as important, such as friends and riches, are willing to join him. His companions are too afraid of their own day of reckoning to be of comfort to him. Good Deeds is willing to go with Everyman but she is too weak since Everyman did nothing to make her strong. Good Deeds then recommends that her sister Knowledge come with Everyman. With Knowledge as a guide, Everyman learns what he must do to face the reckoning and he eventually finds his salvation.
The production is made up of an ensemble of eight actors. Five diverse cast members play the role of Everyman in successive order. Each time a different actor takes on the Everyman role, the cast goes through a ritual of transferring a common shroud from one actor to the next: Corey Mills, Nicole Goeden, Kiara Jackson, Elohim Pena, and Joann Oudekerk. Each play Everyman in their own unique way. These transfers continue in succession until the original Everyman returns to the role. Additional characters include Death, Messenger, Knowledge, Goods, Fellowship, Good Deeds, Cousin, Discretion, Strength and Beauty. The ensemble is rounded out by Sharayah Bunce as Death and Good-Deeds, Nathan Gebhard in multiple roles and Siddeeqah Shabazz who bursts on the scene as Knowledge.
Kurt Larson composed the live original music, with both medieval and modern music overtones. He often incorporates the words of the play into the music which always hovers in the background adding another layer to the performance. Justin Barisonek’s set design is a metal jungle gym with multi-levels and metal piping, providing an urban inner city feel to the set.
Open Window should be commended for taking a chance on reviving this significant play. The show runs without an intermission and there is only one scene with any significant humor. Director Stanbary’s multi-layered production demands great concentration by its audience members to appreciate its complexity. But the audience’s reward for doing so is a unique theatre experience and an appreciation of the universality of its moralistic themes.
LOCATION:
(Metropolis Minneapolis Building)
1313 Chestnut Ave., Ste #102
Minneapolis MN 55403
FEBRUARY 19-MARCH 20
Thursdays-Saturdays @ 7:45pm
Sundays @ 1:30pm
Special matinees: Wednesdays, March 2 & 9 @ 10:30am, and Saturday, March 19 @ 1:30pm
TICKETS: $16-30. Box Office: 612/615-1515, or website: http://openwindowtheatre.org
Thursdays are “Pay-As-You’re-Able” for a $1 minimum at the door for any unsold tickets.
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