Word: oleson
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Directed by Eric Oleson...
This is the summer of sexual perversity for Harvard-Radcliffe Summer Theatre. First, they gave us some from David Mamet, Chicago-style. Now, Eric Oleson and the rest of the HRST troupe are presenting Euripides' tale of madness, divine vengeance and sexual abandon. Titillation, at least, seems guaranteed...
Almost the entire acting burden falls on the shoulders of Oleson, who carries the whole show Oleson displays an amazing sense of comic timing as well as an irresistible variety of goofy facial expressions. But Oleson's tour-de-force performance really takes off in the serious parts. He manages to make Arnolphe's psychosis accessible to the audience, creating sympathy and pulling off these serious scenes with a skill Robin and Jeff Rossman (who plays Horace, Agnes' lover) lack...
...Since Oleson commands the stage with his tremendous stage presence, less is required of the supporting cast. Robin and Rossman have a strong sense of comic timing, but they don't fully convey the simple innocence and sincerity their characters possess. Only part of the problem lies in the translation which turns Moliere's verse into heroic couplets...
What makes these performances even more enjoyable is Sagal's intimate staging and inventive set. Foregoing the Loeb's cavernous regular stage, Sagal built a new set where the front section of seats used to be, surrounding the stage on three sides with seats. During Arnolphe's "asides," Oleson comes right up to people in the front rows and talks directly to them. The high degree of interaction makes the impact of the performances greater than "normal" staging would have...