Peer Gynt

Peer Gynt

Mary Moody Northen Theatre, 3001 S. Congress, 448-8484, www.stedwards.edu

Through Feb. 21

Running time: 3 hr, 20 min

No less than Academy Award-winner Dame Judi Dench, when asked if she could give one piece of advice to actors, said, and I paraphrase, "Bring the energy." And if there's one thing that the Equity professionals and students from St. Edward's University do in this Mary Moody Northen Theatre production of Henrik Ibsen's play, it is bring the energy. Director Ev Lunning Jr. has the production physically flying around the stage, with bodies constantly moving and dancing and swirling and twirling. The play also flies vocally. Entire scenes play so fast that it's sometimes difficult to keep up.

Nothing wrong with great physical energy and a quick tempo, per se. Ibsen wrote the play in verse, and if Robert Bly's translation is any indication, in verse which mostly falls somewhere around the rhymed couplet, which Shakespeare used to such great effect in many of his comedies. Consider the verse and consider the fact that the play includes an extended scene with a kingdom of trolls, and you have a story that falls solidly outside the melodrama so prevalent in the late 19th century. Comedy and fantasy equal physicality and a quick tempo – sure, why not? Problem is, that's about all you get. Granted, comedy should more often than not be played with a quick tempo, but if all you get is a quick tempo – if almost nothing ever slows down – everything eventually falls flat. Same with energy. And while part of Lunning's motivation for getting his actors to play at such a fast tempo is clear – the play clocks in at just under 3½ hours – there are most certainly other ways to shorten the playing time, ways that won't have everything weighing exactly the same and, thus, flattening out. Now, also consider that Bly has been true to Ibsen's original intent and written his translation in verse, and think about three hours' worth of verse delivered at an even, blistering tempo, and you have a night that resembles a sing-songy Dr. Seuss book, but without the really cute characters and colorful pictures.

Some aspects of the production succeed: The kingdom of trolls is fun to watch; the set at the beginning of the second act is scrumptious. The makeup, especially the facial hair, is ubiquitous. The Equity actors involved, Sheila Gordon and Ben Wolfe in multiple roles, stand out from the ensemble every time they appear, but that's to be expected. Jacob Trussell plays Peer Gynt and almost never exits for the length of the production, which is notable because the young actor's energy, and thus commitment to his director's vision, never flags. However, Duncan Coe manages to steal the show right at the end, expertly, amusingly, and seemingly easily playing a harbinger of death.

Perhaps to my everlasting shame, I had never read Peer Gynt and did not read it before I saw it. Now that I've seen it, I couldn't really tell you what it was about. I can certainly explicate the events of the play, but in certain instances I can't even do that. I wish I could. I spent a long time in that theatre, and I wish I could.