The Cenci: Greek Tragedy Italian Style translated from the French with a bit of American tabloid
Oscar E Moore from the rear mezzanine for Talk Entertainment.com
Written by Antonin Artaud and first produced in Paris in 1935, The Cenci, lasted a mere 17 performances. I am not surprised. Produced in New York, for the first time in 35 years (I repeat, I am not surprised) by the Hotel Savant with a new translation by Richard Sieburth, this “theatre of cruelty” fragmented tragedy - adapted and directed by John Jahnke is headed for the same fate at the Ohio Theatre at 66 Wooster Street ending its painful run on February 23rd.
It is a short tale told (about an hour and fifteen minutes) reliving the Roman scandal circa 1599 – headlining the dysfunctional Cenci family. Not unlike the Sopranos. The father has been a naughty boy and the Vatican wants to punish him for his misdeeds by draining him of his fortune. And so, Papa Cenci decides not to give in but instead destroy his entire family, raping his daughter in the process. Beatrice, said daughter, is none too happy with these revelations and plots with her brothers and mother, Lucretia, to murder Papa Cenci.
There is a simulated orgy, pills being popped, bodies shrouded in drapes and mystery, strange sound effects, a few naked male torsos, a pair of breasts on display, some dancing, some blood, a bit of torture, abusive priests, tableaus and much confusion all taking place in a maze on a stage where support columns interfere with seeing what is happening on this stage of sorts at the Ohio. And there is a lot happening. Too much in fact. But I suppose that’s the point. Unfortunately the piece is devoid of humor.
As Beatrice, Lauren Blumenfeld is quite good. Believing in what she is saying even though she isn’t saying too much that’s coherent. I recalled the early Barbra Streisand who did an Off-Broadway play in 1960 – The Insect Comedy - where she played a Butterfly in Act I and a Moth in Act II - and thought that if she was starting out now this is the role she would tackle “to prove that she is an actress”. Four years later Streisand was starring as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl. In fact, Lauren resembles Streisand in a way and I half expected her to start belting out “Don’t Rain on My Parade” at any moment. It would have been greatly appreciated.
As her mother Lucretia – Anna Fitzwater is as thin as the newest laptop and dressed in black and white – looks like one of Cruella de Ville’s dalmatians. It’s not a bad costume but when my mind wanders I begin to entertain myself with such visions.
As the head honcho Cenci, Anthony Torn appears as a Nero without his fiddle. Trying to save himself from this firetrap of a play. Alexander Paul Nifong and Joshua Seidner and Mauricio Tafur Salgado win for best torsos. But I’m afraid those are the only prizes being awarded this time around. As one character states near the end “ Even I cannot understand what has taken place.”
02-11-08
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