"Barrymore" at STC Looks at the Life of One of America's Greatest Actors

2012-04-03T05:45:24Z

Drew Barrymore, a highly successful child actor, adult actor, director, screenwriter, producer and model, is a fourth generation member of the famous Barrymore acting family. As well known as Drew is, her popularity and success pales to that of her grandfather, John Barrymore.

The Sacramento Theater Company opened the production “Barrymore” Saturday night on the Pollock Stage. The play was written by William Luce, best known for “The Belle of Amherst,” who loves to write plays featuring solo actors.

The play opens with Barrymore arriving at some sort of theater space he has rented for just one night to learn his lines for a revival of Shakespeare’s “Richard III,” his most famous role. Alas, a role he was not to perform again.

For over a decade, Barrymore had had to resort to the use of teleprompters of the day: strategically placed chalkboards on movie sets and hidden live vocal prompters in the wings for stage performances. The prompter working with him on his lines this night is clearly doing it out of admiration and respect for Barrymore’s talent and history — and a little misplaced hope to witness some of that greatness again.

Barrymore’s revitalization of “Richard III” on stage and “Grand Hotel” on film opposite Greta Garbo were two of his most famous roles. When personal issues led to the inability to maintain his performance level and were more talked about than his roles, his popularity rapidly diminished. He was not just an unrepentant alcoholic and womanizer, but he was a notorious unrepentant alcoholic and womanizer, one of the worst things you could be in his era.

His decline into alcoholism and possible Alzheimer’s has been described as one of the most tragic in show business.

Broadway vet Gregory North fits right into the role of John Barrymore. In the Broadway show of “Grand Hotel,” he played opposite Cyd Charisse in Barrymore’s role.

Booze and women were not Barrymore’s only vices it seems. A lot of the humor in the show comes from Barrymore’s love of profanity, off-color stories, pet names and his opinions on others. North can be quite funny delivering Barrymore’s foul-mouthed opinions then quickly shifting as the character slips into one of his old roles, giving the audience a glimpse at what made John Barrymore so great.

The other role of the unseen Prompter is voiced very nicely by Sean Patrick Nill, a young local actor and Elly Award winner. Nill very effectively uses his voice and pacing of speech to convey much more than just his character’s dialog with the title character.

Well-known Sacramento director/actor Greg Alexander directs, working well with the confines of the Pollock Stage.

Set designer Mims Mattair has turned the cozy stage into the space Barrymore has rented for the night. Audience members are welcome to sit in the seats on stage for the performance.

Lighting designer Owen Smith cleverly includes stage lighting on a stage on a stage.

Costume designer McKayla Butym dresses Barrymore in some nice duds, along with the Richard III costumes.

“Barrymore” is the last show of the STC season on the Pollock Stage, with one more show on the Main Stage. I often comment on how great it is to see productions in this space. “Barrymore” is no exception. With the three rows of seating on the edge of the stage, the audience has a very up-close experience of North’s wonderful performance as John Barrymore.

"Every Christmas Story Told (and then some!)" a New Holiday Tradition at Capital Stage

2011-12-07T06:43:14Z

Photos by Barry Wisdom

For many people there are certain holiday traditions that if they don’t get to experience them during the holiday season, it just doesn’t feel like the holidays. Capital Stage has started its own little holiday tradition of more than five years of presenting “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and then some!)” which skewers all those wonderful holiday traditions.

Eric steps up to the podium, opens a large book and begins to read, “Marley is dead!”

Before he even starts to read there are titters that are growing into laughter in the audience. It is those who have made “Every Christmas Story...” at Capital Stage their holiday tradition. This Capital Stage production is much like a Monty Python skit. You may have seen it before and know what is coming but it still is just as funny or even more funny.

What everyone is starting to laugh at is that Eric can’t get through the first line of “A Christmas Carol” without an actors’ strike breaking out. Gary as Marley’s ghost wanders out, refusing to go on. They are soon joined by another ghost of Christmas, played by Peter, who also refuses to go on. It seems that both Gary and Peter are only in the production for the medical insurance but just can not do “Carol” one more time.

Promising Eric that they would get back to “Carol” at some point, the three go off taking on a litany of holiday traditions of stage, screen (big and little), as well as countries around the world “and then some!” all to the amusement of the audience.

All three actors have performed “Every Christmas...” several times at Capital Stage and work very well together.

Eric is Eric Wheeler, who has also appeared in several other Capital Stage productions, as well as stages throughout Northern California, in his more than 30-year career.

Gary is Gary S. Martinez, who is primarily a Bay Area actor but states that CapStage and this show is his home away from home for the holidays.

Peter is Peter Mohrmann, one of Capital Stage’s founders and marketing director. While Mohrmann often directs Capital Stage productions, this is one of the rare opportunities to see him on the stage.

While each actor’s character is easily identifiable and each has its own characteristics, all three actors do such a great job it is impossible to single one out.

Ron Madonia’s lighting design by Owen Smith and sound design by ~~Owen Smith~~ Brad Thompson add to the mood, as does Michael Coleman’s props and set dressing and Rebecca Redman’s costume design.

Another Capital Stage founder, Jonathan Rhys Williams, directs and also did the scenic design. Williams has successfully transferred the show from the stage of the Delta King to their new 2215 J Street Midtown home. He spoke after Saturday night’s opening night show about how interesting it was for him as a director to have a very different, larger space with the audience on three sides and so close to the stage.

“Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and then some!)” works even better than it did on the Delta King at the new J Street theater. There are also the updates that help keep the humor topical. The show is great for anyone old enough to have had exposure to holiday traditions. Besides, you don’t want to upset the youngest ones with the truth about Santa and a lot of other holiday traditions.

If you are looking for fun during the holiday season or want to start a new holiday tradition, you would be hard pressed to find a funnier show than “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and then some!)”

Editor's Note: Edits have been made to this article after publishing.

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"Barrymore" at STC Looks at the Life of One of America's Greatest Actors

"Every Christmas Story Told (and then some!)" a New Holiday Tradition at Capital Stage