- By Arlene Winnick
- Photo By Ian Flanders
This summer put Theatricum Botanicum (“a garden theatre”) in Topanga at the top of your must do list. The theatre, founded by Will Geer in the 1950’s McCarthy Era in a splendid natural setting, showcases al fresco Shakespearean and other productions in repertory all summer under the Artistic Direction of his daughter Ellen Geer.
Debuting this month is Moby Dick – Rehearsed, Orson Welles’ stage adaptation of the Herman Melville classic novel. The play, which premiered on the London stage in 1955, centers on a Shakespearean acting troupe who work to create a play based on the beloved book. Soon the strong parallels between their current production of King Lear and the characters’ and actions in Moby Dick become evident. Both Captain Ahab and King Lear are rulers truly obsessed and driven by one goal and so fixated that their leadership and decision making are compromised.
The play as in the novel is narrated by the novice sailor, Ishmael. The staging of Moby Dick – Rehearsed is brilliant – a bare stage is transformed into a whaling ship with the actors creating the dramatic action while the audience’s imagination provides the ocean, costumes… and the persona of the great white whale.
For more details, click here.
