Festen
When we saw "August: Osage County" at the Ahmanson Theatre, we
thought it was the ultimate dramatization of dysfunctional families.
Now along comes Cal Rep's gut-wrenching production of "Festen," in
tandem with "Medea" at UCLA, and we're reminded that "familiarity"
has been "breeding contempt" since the ancient Greeks.
Dramatized by David Eldridge in 2004, "Festen" is based on the
powerful Danish film, "The Celebration." ("Festen" is the Danish
word for "celebration.") And celebrate we do. Not only this West
Coast premiere, but Cal Rep's first production in its new location on
the Queen Mary.
The "feston" in this dynamic drama is Helge's 60th birthday.
As the Danish patriarch of a large, wealthy, distinguished family,
Helge (brilliantly portrayed by Jeff Paul) should be showered with
all the love and respect that his years have earned him.
But from the very beginning (the wailing of Sarah Underwood's
haunting saxophone and Josh Nathan's terrorizing performance as his son
Michael), we sense that "something is rotten in the state of Denmark."
Under Joanne Gordon's tight, cogent direction, you can see it, hear it,
and feel it.
The servants are all waiting, and the elegant house (set design
by Danila Korogodsky, lighting by Naoki Ogawa) is ready for the joyous
occasion, while a cauldron of raw feelings smolder just beneath the
respectability.
When told by the butler that he's not invited to the party,
Michael flies into a violent rage. Never mind that he didn't go to
his sister’s funeral, today is his father's birthday and he has a
right to be there. So in he barges with his submissive wife Mette
(Deborah Lazor) following behind with their young daughter.
Then bit by bit, revelation by revelation, Cal Rep's excellent
cast reveals the festering wounds and deep secrets of this
"upstanding" family as it slowly self-destructs.
The first bombshell is hurled by son Christian (David Vegh), a
successful businessman who owns a string of Paris restaurants. In a
soft-spoken voice, he tells everyone around the table that his father
repeatedly raped him and his twin sister when they were children.
Although his detached mother (Nancy Bell) calmly dismisses it,
and his neurotic sister Helene (Anna Steers) suggests that he just
imagined it, Christian won't back down. Later he even makes a toast,
"to the man who killed my sister"--a reference to her recent suicide
and the funeral that everyone except Michael attended.
By now the fast-flowing liquor has caused the party to become
boisterous. A senile Grandfather (Ken Rugg) repeats stupid jokes, a
depressed friend (Mark Piatelli) recites stupid poems; and everyone
marches around singing racial songs.
Coaxed back to the table for dinner, the scene is completely
spell-binding--full of silence so long it is deafening, followed by a
cacophonous clinking of glasses and plates as everyone eats and drinks.
Helge's frigid wife gives a chilling speech to each of her children
and demands that Christian apologize. It's obvious that all of them have
been scarred in their childhood; but was his story true or fabricated?
When Helene's black boyfriend shows up, everyone gasps. An out-of-control
Michael accuses her of "dragging a monkey to Daddy's party."
And on it goes. The family's disastrous slide continues, but to reveal the
shocking details would be unprofessional. Cal Rep's superb production of this
important work is a must-see.
"Festen" is performed on the Queen Mary each Friday and Saturday
through Oct. 17. For ticket information, call (562) 985-5526
or go to www.calrep.org