Pericles Redux
The Dax Foundation, a private philanthropic foundation, has awarded grants to several Los Angeles based groups that they feel need support to be recognized throughout the city. One such company is the remarkable No Man Apart Physical Theatre Ensemble that wowed the Edinburgh Festival lat year with their production and take on Shakespeare’s Pericles that they call Pericles Redux.
In the tradition of Grotowski, the production is presented in a bare space and the story is told through words but more importantly through physical movement and dance. Artistic Director and the actor who play Pericles, John Farmanesh Bocca says that he considers his work a “ mash up” of various styles and techniques he has learned in his career as an actor/dancer/athlete. His style has been compared to Felini, Grotowski, Cirque de Soleil, Pilobolis, and Monty Python. I would add, an understanding of classical dance, gymnastics, and Shakespearean Theatre.
Pericles Redux is really a remarkable achievement. The plot retells a rather episodic tale of a prince as he travels around the ancient world trying to find his family. Along the way he encounters incest, silliness, pirates, tempestuous seas, death, rebirth, famine, and reconciliation. Shakespeare’s Pericles is an ideal play to translate into a physical theatre piece because it literally goes all over the map. Shakespeare may not have even written parts of it so director Bocca was free to add his creativity to the mix. The cast is extraordinary capturing the multi-sourced material and showing a mastery of all the different inspirations. Emmy- winning actress Jennifer Landon , Michael Landon’s daughter, joins the troupe in this reincarnation and holds her own admirably. The three Fates, the bald muscular and generally bare- cheasted guys who drive the play are terrific. They are Vincente Cardinale, Dash Pepin, and Jones Walsh. Need comic relief comes from Alexander Rogers who plays a variety of amusing roles. John Farmesh Bocca is an inspiration as Pericles, throwing himself about trusting his company to provide him the backup he needs. I must say for all the rolling about and acrobatics none of the movement seemed repetitive reflecting Bocca’s dance background. The production was an inspiration all around and I look forward to seeing a lot more of their work. Pericles Redux play at the Kirk Douglas Theatre for nine performances only July 17 – 26th.