By 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.
Johnson 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…….
Never 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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