VINTAGE THEATRE: 3/30
-5/13
Peter Morgan’s play, THE
AUDIENCE , premiered in 2013 in London’s West End and was the inspiration for
the Emmy Award-winning Netflix series, THE CROWN. It’s a riveting ride through
60 years of Elizabeth II’s reign. Unlike her predecessor, Queen Elizabeth I,
this queen’s power deals less in the ‘execution’ of governmental rule. For this
she relies upon her Prime Minister.
Every week Queen Elizabeth II has a
meeting with the Prime Minister. It’s a private audience that’s secret.
Although some may see this monarch as
merely a figurehead, we, as audience, become privy to the fact that her
penetrating questions and sparkling repartee have clout.
Luminous and revelatory, Deborah Persoff’s
portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II, stuns! In her performance as the queen her
approval or disapproval of the politicians in each of these audiences is often
quite subtle. Her penetrating gaze and shifts of body language , not to mention
her verbal tonality, speak volumes.
The actors
portraying the various prime ministers in question are: Mark Collins (John
Major), Christian Mast (Tony Blair), Jeff Jesmer (David Cameron), Wes Munsil
(Anthony Eden), Chad Patten (The Equerry), Verl Hite (Gordon Brown), Andy
Anderson (Harold Wilson) and Suzanna Wellens (Margaret Thatcher).
Suzanna
Wellens gives her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher teeth. An amiable Andy
Anderson displays a wide range of emotions in his three scenes as Harold Wilson.
Mark Collins gives us a credible John Major as well.
Payton
Maynard portrays the young Elizabeth, with Leslie Randle making a brief
appearance as Elizabeth’s nanny, Bobo MacDonald.
The costume design by Susan
Rahmsdorff-Terry is very fine indeed.
Steven Tangedal’s set design for the queen’s
private audience room in Buckingham Palace Balmoral Castle is superbly executed
and beautifully appointed.
Bernie Cardell’s direction shines.
Vintage Theatre & Spotlight Theatre
present
“The Audience”
The imagined meetings between Queen
Elizabeth II and, over 60 years, her twelve Prime Ministers.
Mar. 30-May 13
Fri/Sat and Mon., Apr. 9, Thurs., May 10 at 7:30 p.m.;
Sundays and Sat., May 12at 2:30 p.m.
$16 - $32
Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora 80010.
2 hrs. 20 min. with 1 intermission.
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