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Some of the cast of "Tamara" Photo credit Heather Mull |
I hope you don’t think I’m some kind of smarty pants by using the somewhat pretentious adjective peripatetic in my title to describe Quantum Theatre’s latest production. In all honesty, it’s the best word I could think of, although A Moveable Feast first crossed my mind, but I knew that Ernest Hemingway had already appropriated that phrase.
Put on comfortable walking shoes and be prepared to scurry about the intricate halls and pathways of Rodef Shalom Congregation, upstairs and down, where you follow one of ten actors (you choose the character) into atriums, rooms large and small, offices and a capacious auditorium. All of these have been transformed by scenic designer Stephanie Mayer-Staley into rooms in an Italian villa set in the 1927 time period of Mussolini’s Fascist government.
The evening starts in the Temple’s beautiful Biblical Garden, where plants mentioned in the Bible are identified with small black and white plaques. There, patrons are served a complimentary glass of sparkling wine and given time to stroll and explore the botanicals before the villa owner’s servant, Dante (Ethan Hova), megaphone in hand, politely announces that the proceedings are about to begin.
But not before the menacing Fascist officer, Aldo Finzi (Robert Turano), done up in a dark and grim commandant’s uniform, threateningly spells out some of the evening’s rules of conduct - no talking during the show, no standing in front of doors, no roaming the halls alone.
But, yes, commandant or not, there is comedy, especially in the amorous scenes of the lead, Gabriele d’Annunzio (Fermin Suarez) and title character, Tamara (Megan MacKenzie Lawerence) that trickle down like some erotic contagion to folks of lesser rank, ie., the servants and hangers-on. Add to the dramatic stew political intrigue, lofty discussions of aesthetics and the power of art, sundry schemes and plots, bits of political history, screams and gunshots, kisses and rebukes and you end up with a unique theatrical experience penned by playright John Krazanc with conceptual help from Richard Rose.
In "Tamara," plot has a secondary feel, mainly because the audience breaks into groups and follows, in different directions, a character of choice. In various places, the narratives unfold simultaneously, allowing each audience member to follow a mere fraction of the entire script. But that doesn’t seem to matter because the threads of the plot line inter-tangle enough to satisfy anyone’s need for a story-line.
To me, the theatrical adventures in "Tamara" are similar to those found on reality TV, where slices of life, in this case scripted, are exposés of individual drama, desires and conflict. The difference is that Krazanc’s dialogue is vastly more interesting, invigorating and cerebral.
Two hours and 45 minutes may seem a bit much of an engagement for anyone’s attention span, but remember that a good bulk of that time is spent outside on the terrace at intermission enjoying an al fresco dinner prepared by some of Pittsburgh’s better caterers and restaurateurs. Dinner and its complimentary glass of wine is included in the price of the ticket, and Quantum has partnered with six different food providers to serve the meal over "Tamara’s" six-week run.
Dinner comes about halfway through the presentation, and it serves as a good opportunity to share with fellow audience members who’ve taken alternate paths in the play bits of what they’ve learned along the way.
Throughout the evening, I mostly followed d"Annunzio, a real life person of importance who actually did meet up with artist Tamara de Lempicka at his villa on the shore of Lake Garda in northern Italy in the time period of the play. Poet, playwright, soldier and later politico who greatly influenced "Il Duce," d’Annunzio is shown as a man with strong desires for women, his nation and his art, which he creates through the written word.
As d’Annunzio, Suarez adroitly captures his character’s strong enthusiasms, often loftily, even poetically. expressed in Krizanc’s text. Surprisingly, I found him at his most poignant when paired in scenes with his housekeeper, Aelis (Tammy Tsai), a crafty schemer with an adroit mind and Sapphic inclinations, and his chauffeur, Mario (Thomas Constantine Moore), a left-leaning revolutionary with an idealistic earnestness.
As Gian Francesco de Spiga, Ken Bolden made a charming house guest cut from the same cloth as some of the male characters in plays by Noel Coward with much the same wit but a bit more intellect. As Tamara, diminutive Megan MacKenzie Lawrence had the requisite flair and panache to capture the colorful Art Deco artist, whose paintings have been and probably still are included in the collections of Madonna, Barbra Streisand and Jack Nicholson.
I can’t even bear to think of the nightmare job director John Shepard must have had not only rehearsing and blocking the cast but also synchronizing their movements from room to room and getting this 3-dimensional (4-dimensional?) work of art to behave like a mechanism that miraculously comes together like a well-oiled clock.
No marathon I’ve ever been to has ever been so entertaining.
Quantum Theatre’s "Tamara" is at Rodef Shalom Congregation, 4905 Fifth Ave. in Oakland through September 14. For tickets, phone 412-362-1713 or visit websitequantumtheatre.com.
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If you’re going, here’s a few things you'll want to know:
A mobile experience
You’ll follow the character(s) of your choice (among 10) around Rodef Shalom. It’s recommended that friends split up to see the story from different perspectives. If mobility is an issue, please call 412-362-1713 to let staffers know:. The theater will be sure to let you know which path will be the easiest.
Dress the part
Quantum is suggesting Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes. You will be entering the grand home of Gabriele d'Annunzio... Dress up a little or make a nod to the period if you wish. Who doesn't love 1920s fashion? But wearing comfortable shoes is a must!
Bag Check
In addition to comfortable shoes, the theater staff thinks you'll be most comfortable if you're not carrying a large bag. Leave it locked in your car in Rodef Shalom's safe parking lot A bag/coat check is also available. Your valuables should be safe after check-in for the duration of the show.
Dining al fresco
An Intermezzo dinner will be served each night. Vegetarian options are available with advance notice. Please call 412-362-1713 to request a vegetarian meal 48 hours before attending.
Time Check
Please note which day you are scheduled to come: Sunday and Tuesday performances begin at 6:30pm. Wed, Thurs, and Saturday performances begin at 7:00 p.m.
Learn More.
Visit the TAMARA website at www.quantumtheatre.com for more information, photos, and videos.
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A scene from "Tamara" Photo credit Heather Mull |