Christopher Marlowe’s “The Faggot King…” Reigns Supreme

Hollywood Fringe Festival 2017 imageBy Ernest Kearney — Director, Christopher Johnson is too clever by half.

That was demonstrated at the 2016 Fringe when his live actor Punch and Judy Show took top honors here at The TVolution, and it is present again in his raucous, gender bending and madcap rendering of Christopher Marlowe’s 1593 play The Faggot King or The Troublesome Reign and Lamentable Death of Edward the Second.

Johnson puts his talented cast through numerous beheadings, lovely choral songs, fierce sword play, erotic trysts, pageantry a-plenty, and even a few well-choreographed disco numbers.

In a gender swap, Heather Schmidt is Edward II whose sexual misconduct brings about a revolt of his nobles and his/her own demise, as Johnson gives us the royal downfall against the background of Stonewall.

Jordon Worthy as Edward IIIJohnson is a highly imaginative director, and one who knows how to surround himself with gifted folks.

His cast is strong across the boards with stand-outs in Kara Hume as Queen Isabella, Adriana Colón as Gaveston, Eric Rollins as Mortimer and Jordan S. Worthy as Edward III.

Johnson is also ably served by Jen Albert his producer/flight choreographer and Daniel Halden as the choral director.

My only problem with the show was my inability to discern if Johnson’s intentions were to present his audience with a parody or a traditional staging, or a parodying of a traditional staging, or a…….

Fringe Award-Gold Medal-The TVolutionNever mind.

Whatever his intentions, Johnson has certainly mounted one of the most visually rich and ambitious shows of this Fringe.

Just for that a GOLD MEDAL.

♦    ♦    ♦

Playing During The Fringe at

Lounge Theatre
6201 Santa Monica Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90038

Remaining Shows:

Saturday June 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

Sunday June 18, 2017, 2:00 pm

Friday June 23, 2017, 10:00 pm

Saturday June 24, 2017, 2:00 pm

For Tickets and Additional Information:
http://hff17.com/4595

 

A TVolution Recommendation: 

This Production Team is holding a STAGE COMBAT WORKSHOP on June 17.
To Learn More go to:  http://hff17.com/4777


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Written by

An award-winning L.A. playwright and rabble-rouser of note who has hoisted glasses with Orson Welles, been arrested on three continents and once beat up Charlie Manson. His first play, "Among the Vipers" was a semi-finalist in the Julie Harris Playwriting Competition and was featured in the Carnegie-Mellon Showcase of New Plays. It was produced at the NPT Theater in Ashland, Oregon and Los Angeles’ celebrated Odyssey Ensemble Theatre. His following play, “The Little Boy Who Loved Monsters” was produced at The Hollywood Actors Theater, where he earned praise from the Los Angeles Times for his “…inordinately creative writing.” The play went on to numerous other productions including Berlin’s The Black Theatre under the direction of Rainer Fassbinder who wrote in his program notes of Kearney, “He is a skilled playwright, but more importantly he is a dangerous one.” Ernest Kearney has worked as literary manager or as dramaturge for among others The Hudson Theater Guild, Nova Diem and the Odyssey Ensemble Theatre, where he still serves on the play selection committee. He has been the recipient of two Dramalogue Awards and a finalist or semi-finalist, three times, in the Julie Harris Playwriting Competition. His work has been performed by Michael Dunn, Sandra Tsing Loh, Jack Colvin and Billy Bob Thornton, and to date, either as playwright or director, he has upwards of a hundred and thirty productions under his belt, including a few at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater as puppeteer. Kearney remains focused on his writing, as well as living happily ever after with his lovely wife Marlene. His stage reviews and social essays can be found at TheTVolution.com and workingauthor.com. Follow him on Facebook.

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