Date: Fri 26-Jul-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: CAROLK

Illustration: C

Location: A10

Quick Words:

Players-theatre-Knight-Pestle

Full Text:

(rev "Knight of the Burning Pestle" by Town Players, 7/26/96)

Theatre Review-

Aspiring Talent, Good Humor Seen In This Summer `Knight' Staging

By June April

Humor spans cultures and time: Though The Knight of the Burning Pestle , a

bawdy, boisterous satire was written at the beginning of the 1600s by Francis

Beaumont, it is as amusing now as it was then. An entertaining production, it

is the current offering by the Town Players of Newtown, out of the group's

Little Theatre.

A contemporary of William Shakespeare, Beaumont's plays and other writing are

more basic than the Bard's but nonetheless entertaining. His works provide an

insightful glimpse into the middle class values and wit of his time.

Credit goes to director Ruth Anne Baumgartner and the Town Players board of

directors for electing to present an unknown work and challenging the audience

with another theatrical experience. Upon sitting, audience members should read

the yellow sheet entitled "Knight Notes."

The educator that is a large part of the Baumgartner persona has set down all

manner of interesting information about the history, the jokes and references,

and characters in the production. It is not intended as an example of "yellow

journalism"; instead it is typical of Ms Baumgartner in that it is very well

expressed, illuminating and thoroughly delightful. Watching the play will be

that much more meaningful.

The set is simple, elegant and another notch in the belt of the very

multiply-talented Al Kulscar. This soft-spoken gentleman deservedly won the

Square One Subscribers' Choice Award this year for "best featured actor of the

1995-96 season" for his performance in The Business of Murder . He is a

builder, writer, actor and a genuinely modest and giving person.

Mr Kulscar plays the "Grocer," a member of the burgeoning Guilds of the

Elizabethan period. With the rise of the middle class, the involvement in the

arts is captured herein by Beaumont, on several levels... physical and verbal.

In brief, Knight of the Burning Pestle is a play-within-a-play. A grocer and

his wife come to see a play, but find it is not the kind of play they really

would like to see. They end up inserting their own idea of an exciting play

about a knight who performs good and daring deeds into the acting company's

intended production.

Teamed with the energetic and talented Lucy Babbitt as the Grocer's wife,

these two laughably invasive citizens become involved with directing. The

audience is also brought into the play by... no, this reviewer won't tell;

you'll see how when you see the production.

Aspiring talent is encouraged by Ms Baumgartner: six of the characters are

played by students, mostly from Newtown High School. All-around promise as an

actor and singer points to Chris Bassett, who plays the determined suitor

Jasper Merrythought. Andrea Tarka, Kathleen Mooney, Morgan Koehler, Rex

Krueger, Jill Swiatowicz and Adam James Gallow are clearly enjoying their

roles. All have said they've learned a great deal from being involved in this

production.

Music and dance are an integral part of Knight/Burning Pestle . Interludes of

comedy, dance and song were typical of Elizabethan productions. Beaumont used

music freely throughout the play, combining popular songs of the age with

tunes written especially for Knight/Burning Pestle .

Director Baumgartner obtained many of the original tunes from the Eastman

School of Music in Rochester, NY. The voices of many cast members is truly a

pleasure to hear. An especially beautiful song is an a cappella duet with

Laura Evans and Newtown High School student Jill Swiatowicz.

The talent of Rafe, also known as Mark Frattaroli, is unquestionable. This

actor has done quite a lot of theatre that this reviewer has seen, and always

found his acting to be very, very fine. The training he had with the late,

great Morris Carnovsky is marked in his Shakespearian roles.

Although not appearing particularly old, Rob Pawlikowski is a merry, melodious

Old Merrythought. His harpy of a wife is poutily played by Leslie Van Etten

Broatch.

Additionally, actors Dick Rush, Larry Carlin, George Lang and Joanne Stanley

play multiple parts and add a richness to this play. The "tapster" was played

by Ron Malyszka, but will be acted by Lew Robinson at the last two

performances, August 2 and 3.

Producer Mary Poile and production assistant Brett Galotta have clearly done

their jobs well.

The Little Theatre is located on Orchard Hill Road in Newtown, off Route 25.

Knight of the Burning Pestle will continue July 26-27 and August 2-3, with

curtain at 8:30 pm. Call 270-9144 for tickets and further information.