Rockin’ & rollin’ with Trinity’s ‘Beowulf’

By Don Fowler
Posted 9/15/16

While “Beowulf” may have been a dreaded reading assignment for most students, both young and old should be flocking to Trinity Rep to see director Curt Columbus’ take on the epic story …

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Rockin’ & rollin’ with Trinity’s ‘Beowulf’

Posted

While “Beowulf” may have been a dreaded reading assignment for most students, both young and old should be flocking to Trinity Rep to see director Curt Columbus’ take on the epic story poem.

Michael McGarty has created an expansive four-level staging, filled with everything from a horse to a dragon, five orange-haired swinging warriors, three “academics” who explain the story, a rocking hero and his momma’s-boy antagonist. The epic poem turned rock opera is one of the riskiest moves that Trinity has made in recent years…and it works!

The two-hour, fast-paced musical opens with three academics (Stephen Berenson, Anne Scurria and Janet Duclos) facing the audience in an open forum discussion of the ancient story.

The sometimes-challenging writing of the original text is handled so hysterically by these three veteran actors that you will wonder why you didn’t appreciate it more when you had to struggle through it in school. Berenson, Scurria and Duclos respectively assume the roles of the monster Grendel, his mother and the dragon, three characters that couldn’t be farther from the academics – and that works, too.

There was some apprehension about this senior citizen critic warming up to a reinterpretation of a classic by adding pulsating rock music – but that worked, too.

Charlie Thurston, one of the best new actors to grace the Trinity stage, portrays Beowulf with a clueless, chauvinistic attitude and a powerful singing voice that will long be remembered as one of the best single performances in the theatre’s history. Add Joe Wilson Jr.’s Hrothgar and Rachel Warren’s warrior to the mix and you have rock music for all generations. Both have solos that will blow you away.

There’s a bit of tongue-in-cheek in the production, some subtle political references, and some digs at a male dominated society. One of the battles takes place under water, with Columbus pulling out an overhead projector (Remember those?) to set the scene, and that works beautifully.

If you’re not heading for the rest rooms during intermission, there’s plenty of fun to be had in the confines of the Chace Theatre, with chalk and “the head of Grendel.” Be surprised. And finally, with much passage of time, Beowulf gets to fight his dragon.

If you want to be thoroughly entertained and actually get a simplified interpretation of “Beowulf,” don’t miss this innovative, energetic parody. Be warned that there is some very strong language.

“Beowulf” is at Trinity Rep through October 9. Call 351-4242 for reservations.

Editor’s note: Don Fowler was supposed to be in the hospital on Press Night and had recruited RIPR’s Bill Gale to review “Beowulf” and Gamm’s “Arcadia.” Fortunately – or unfortunately – his surgeon was ill and his heart surgery was postponed until September 16, keeping his record intact at not missing a Trinity opening since 1977. He will also be at the preview performance of “Arcadia” the night before his surgery. “Why not? I won’t be able to sleep anyway.” He thanks Bill Gale for being there for him and has asked him to cover some other play openings that he will miss during his recuperation.

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