by dick kerekes dickkerekes@yahoo.com
* this article is exclusive to eujacksonville.com
Currently on stage at Players by the Sea, is the Tony Award-winning play by Tennessee Williams, Night of the Iguana, playing through April 19th. Players is located at 106 Sixth Street North, Jacksonville Beach. Reservations number 249-0289 or at www.playersbythesea.org.
The Night of the Iguana is set in l940 at a hotel on the west coast of Mexico b where an American widow endeavors to keep her tropical hotel and love life intact. Her guests include; the defrocked Reverend Lawrence Shannon, who is struggling with his addictions to alcohol and young women; the refined yet penniless artist Hannah Jelkes; her grandfather Nonno, the oldest living and practicing poet; a family of rowdy Germans and a bus load of Baptist women and their rebellious tour leader.
This Players production has two set s of stars: The actors. Director and the technical staff.
Keith Klemmt, who was formerly a student of Iguana’s Director George Ballis at Jacksonville University, designed the marvelous set. Mr. Klemmt, brought a wealth of talent to this task from working with the Metropolitan Opera Company, David Merrick Productions and the Atlanta Lyric Opera company. Technical Director David Paul, Players Executive Director Joseph Swartz, and Scenic Artist Ann Roberts, built and painted this fabulous hotel by the sea and tropical setting.
This Ann Robert’s last show as her family is moving to Baltimore very soon. She has been tremendous asset to the entire theatre community in North Florida and will be sorely missed. Gayle Featheringill’s authentic costume design completed the visual picture
The biography in the program says George Ballis has been directing for 50 years and I believe it. I have seen dozens of plays he has directed and each has been crafted like a fine sculpture or painting, with careful and considered casting, and analysis of the script line by line for meanings intended by the playwright. Night of the Iguana is another directing masterpiece.
Ballis has Tennessee William’s wonderful writing to work with, and a host of unique characters. Join me in looking at them.
Anthony Helms (Pedno) and Andres Hernandez (Pancho), two Spanish houseboys who carry luggage and provide relief for their employer’s sexual drive.
Rachael Jones, Annett Page, Fritz Reinhardt and Samuel Willis, are the loud and sometimes humorous German tourists, who cheer when they hear that London has been bombed by Hitler’s air force. Bob Glazener has a nifty cameo as a substitute tour guide. Will Howery makes an appearance as Hank a bus driver.
Gayle Featheringill is excellent as Ms Fellows, the supercharged chaperon of the young girls who really unloads on Reverend Shannon and his propensity for young girls. Larry Fairall is convincing playing someone twice his age, the 97 old poet Nonno.
Thanks to make up consultant Charlie Brown he really looked to be almost 100 and certainly acted it. Alex Robbins, who was so marvelous as Lotty in the Theatre Jacksonville’s Enchanted April, is Charlotte the teenage nymphomaniac who wants to marry Reverend Shannon.
Sinda Nichols is making her PBTS and Jacksonville area debut as Hannah. She has performed in plays all over the USA and is now living in Amelia Island. Ms. Nichols plays the complex role of the spinster, caring for her grandfather while hustling her sketches and paintings to make a living. She is as much a con man as Reverend Shannon but in a more refined and subtle way. The sexual tension sparkles as she engages Rev Shannon in verbal exchange in act II.
Cee Cee Hayes burns up the stage as the lusty newly widowed hotel owner who turns her sexual appetite to the newly arrived Shannon and away from her two Mexican houseboys. Betty Davis originated this role on Broadway but I can’t imagine her being any better than Ms. Hayes, who is better looking to boot!! A tour de force performance for Ms.Hayes.
Maury Covington is a professional actor who is appearing as Reverend Shannon as a courtesy of Actor’s Equity Association. His resume of plays and movies could easily fill this page. He probably best known in this area for the acting classes he holds when he is not on the road traveling. The Rope Studio offers film, television and theatrical coaching for the serious and seasoned actor. In my opinion, Covington is absolutely magnificent in this complex role. Reverend Shannon is a neurotic lost and desperate soul who is struggling to find passion and love. Mr. Covington has such stage presence and control it is a joy to watch him work. He is truly convincing as Shannon,
Tennessee Williams language is so rich and descriptive in this , his last play, and it certainly pays homage to his talent. Ballis’ expert direction has the first act fast paced, on this very large stage. The second act involved more dialogue but Ballis still keeps it from getting static by his excellent stage blocking.
Night of the Iguana is a very difficult to stage which is probably why it has not previously been done in Jacksonville, but I have not seen a challenge that Players by the Sea is not up to do, and they have been truly successful in this production. Don’t miss it, if you want to see one of the best sets of the year along with fine acting.
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