by Michèle Griskey
Special to the Sounder
Two years after the success of staging “Arthur: the Begetting,” The Orcas Actors Theater presents “Arthur: the Hunt,” the second in a seven-play series by Settle playwright Jeff Berryman.
The play opens 20 years after the end of the last play. England is in chaos from shifts in political and religious ideology. Conflict between kingdoms and invaders from neighboring lands and tribes motivates Emrys (The Merlin) to find the future king, Arthur.
Director Doug Bechtel has a talent for getting actors to explore their characters in depth and work together as a team. This play was no exception.
Tom Fiscus plays a determined yet frustrated Emrys, who lost the ability to have visions (The Sight) with the death of his beloved Igraine years before. Tom Fiscus does an excellent job showing both the strengths and weaknesses in this powerful character.
Cara Russell inhabits the beautiful and tortured Morgan with brilliance. Russell’s ability to show subtlety and rage, darkness and layers in this complex character is nothing short of amazing.
Freddy Hinkle plays the impatient and bold King Cadwallan with a fierce determination in his words and actions. The audience has no doubts King Cadwallan is a force to be feared.
Bruce Hunter Bosley as King Uriens, one of the new Christian Kings in England, skillfully reveals both the innocence and the unwavering loyalty in this character.
Creighton Hofeditz brings a fantastic energy to his role as Bledri, a Captain in King Uriens’ army. He plays a vast range of emotions – from happiness to despair – with fluidity and strength.
Zach Schwartz conveys great vitality and humor in his role of Cullen, a soldier in King Uriens’ army and close friend to Bledri.
Kate Hanson plays the warrior queen Gwenhwyfar. Hanson reveals a resilient Gwenhwyfar, the queen you would want on your side in a battle. Yet, she also shows the kindness buried inside the queen’s fierceness with grace.
The strength of this performance is also found in the words of the playwright. Berryman uses lyrical period language, yet the lines are still understandable for contemporary audiences. The pacing is strong, and the audience is clued in pretty early to a significant piece of knowledge that the characters haven’t yet worked out. Part of the fun is watching the truth reveal itself on stage.
The music includes beautiful flute melody composed and performed by Martin Lund with the assistance of Paris Wilson. The stage is simple with rocks and a mural of trees. Period costumes, clashing swords, crackling fires, and crashing waves add to the ambiance to help transform you back to 490 AD England.
Instead of the grandeur and pageantry generally depicted in interpretations of the Arthurian legends, Arthur: The Hunt focuses instead on the emotional–the humanity of the story. The audience understands the characters desperate need for hope. The human connection that unites us all—fear, uncertainty, impatience, childhood wounds, and, ultimately, love makes this work universal and as timely today as when the first Arthurian Legends were told centuries ago.
“Arthur: the Hunt” comes highly recommended. This show is well worth your time. Don’t miss it!
Remaining performances: Saturday, Sept. 7 at 7:30 pm and a matinee on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 2:30 pm, and Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Sept. 13 through 15 at 7:30 p.m. each night. All performances are at The Grange.
This play is suitable for all but the youngest children. Tickets are $10 and are available at Darvills Bookstore, on-line at www.orcasactors.com and at the door.
For additional information contact the Director, Doug Bechtel at 317-5601.
