At the Guthrie Theater – Directed by Lisa Peterson – Runs through 26 Feb 2012
It’s been a while since I got down to the Guthrie – I’ve been distracted by the lovely Cowles Center on the other side of down town, as well as some traveling Broadway crews. But Cat looked like a good way to fill in one of the gaps in my theatrical education. It’s an uneven production, with some stellar performances and a few weak spots, but worth the trip.
Emily Swallow as Maggie the Cat is stellar, and that’s fortunate. Not only does she have 90% of the lines in the first act, she plays against an oddly passive Brick (Peter Christian Hansen). Without this powerful Maggie, the energy would have drained from the room. Brick is supposed to be disconnected, uncooperative, and hostile; that’s just how he rolls. But this Brick crosses the line from obstacle to object. His presence on the stage at times is so passive he seems like set dressing. Even with his limited lines in this section of the play, I wanted Brick to be a bigger, more imposing, more noticeable guy. I needed him to be more brittle, more on the edge, and to have a lot more energy around him.This issue is far less noticeable in the second act, where Brick’s emotional climax was deftly handled. But I didn’t have a foundation upon which to appreciate it.
Big Daddy, played by David Anthony Brinkley, is perfect in his role of an old plantation boss on his way out. His climactic scenes with Brick are a highlight of the play. This is an actor who walks on stage with his character fully formed and understood without saying a word. Also notable was Melissa Hart as the long-suffering wife of Big Daddy, and a woman who has created a fantasy version of her husband. Her comic timing was excellent in a role that can easily become cartoonish, but in this case, succeeded.
Another feature of this production is the handling of the “No-Necked Monsters” who are the five children of Brick’s sneaky brother, Gooper. These young actors appeared to be having an absolutely fabulous time, as about every ten minutes they get to run screaming through the Guthrie, often shooting cap guns and otherwise causing mayhem. (I must admit some jealousy there. There’s been one or two theatrical productions over the years where I might have liked to do that, too.) The children’s costumes are bright and far too pretty, as if they are living dolls, and they sing horrifying inspirational tunes and say inappropriate things. This contingent was used to exactly the right degree, and did not overwhelm the production. Instead they created a comic thread that ran nicely throughout.
One sound note: we were in the 5th row, orchestra, and I had a hard time hearing Brick several times in the first act. This might have contributed to my perception of his energy. Didn’t have that issue with any of the other actors.
Other Resources
Star Tribune Review (This article may require subscription)
TC Daily Planet Review
Brainerd Dispatch Review
Twin Cities.com Review
Citypages – The Dressing Room Blog – Feature piece
Star Tribune feature piece
How Was the Show blog – Review