Review: The Master and Margarita (Strawdog Theatre)

Strawdog explores intersection of religion, magic, insanity – and actors

Strawdog Theatre presents

The Master and Margarita

Adapted by Edward Kemp Based on novel by Mikhail Bulgakov Directed by Louis Contey at Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway (map) through April 2  |  tickets: $20  |  more info

Reviewed by Katy Walsh

As artistic differences threaten the theatrical production of Pontius Pilate, Satan arrives in town to set the record straight. Strawdog Theatre presents The Master and Margarita. In anti-religion Moscow, a writer works feverishly to create a masterpiece play. His girlfriend Margarita believes he is ‘The Master’ and is willing to do anything to support his writing. The government’s theatrical department interferes with his show. They want to ensure Pontius Pilate discredits Jesus’ existence. Satan and his cronies visit for a little civilization observation. They also want to get their magic show on the stage. Arrested, committed, beheaded, the poor souls of Russia are in chaos. When Satan sheds insight into mortals’ psyches, the balance of life has a peaceful neutralization. The Master and Margarita blurs the division between magic and religion, imagination and psychoses, theatrical and actual, life and death.

Is it a play about a play about the historical decision maker Pontius Pilate? Or is it the full blown hallucination from an asylum inmate? Is it pro-religion or just anti- being anti? The Master and Margarita is for certain an epic of biblical portions. On a primarily stark set, crowd scenes are choreographed using cast as colorful and changing scenery. The large ensemble is white-faced (make-up designer Aly Renee Amidei) and sometimes black-masked. (Special nod to Amidei for the Centurion’s makeup: I was transfixed.) The mass unified look effectively emphasizes the alternating mood from theatrical to threatening to comical to spooky. Costume designer Joanna Melville goes hellish, dressing up an underworld ball in goth prom attire. The vibrant swirl of activity is non-stop. Under the direction of Louis Contey, the multiple themes and scene transitions flow smoothly and briskly into the next.

A plethora of Russian names, myriad of actors playing numerous roles, and the whitening effect add to a quandary of identification. Among the easily recognized, the damned bunch are hilarious misfits. Tom Hickey (Woland aka Satan) leads with smug wisdom and a surprising twisted kindness. Anderson Lawfer (Behemoth) is hysterical as a talking cat. Without even that many lines, Lawfer drawls the funny out with a bow tie without pants comment. Double-vision, Danny Taylor (Fagott) has a comedic and mysterious allure. Anita Deely (Azazello) is the non-nonsense assistant from hell. As the enduring lovers, Dennis Grimes (The Master) is a gentle martyr-type and Justine Turner (Margarita) is his strong lovely rescuer. The entire ensemble are convincing as actors playing theatre types, actors playing crazies or actors playing people going to hell… or maybe there isn’t a distinction.

The first act is a bubbling manifesto of intriguing confusion. The intermission is a pause from the frenzy to admit uncertainty to the point of the show. At some point in act two, there is an ‘A-ha moment.‘ All the dots connect for art open to interpretation. To sum it up, the cat said it best in one of the final scenes, ‘now, I get this play!’ What the cat said!

Rating: ★★★

The Master and Margarita continues through April 2nd, with performances Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 4pm. There is no performanceSunday, April 3. Tickets are $20 with group, senior and student discounts available. Tickets may be ordered by calling 773.528.9696 or by visiting www.strawdog.org.

Running Time: Two hours and thirty minutes with a ten minute intermission

Artists

Cast

	Christy Arington Rimsky/ Lucrezia Borgia Alejandro Cordoba Andrei/ Kaifa Anita Deely *   Azazello Kyle Gibson   Ivan Sarah Goeden   Natasha/ Messalina Dan Granata  Trepan/ Caligula	Dennis Grimes   Master Tom Hickey *   Woland/Afranius Anderson Lawfer *   Behemoth Ian Maxwell   Pilate/Stravinsky Loretta Rezos   Hella/Signora Tofana Jude Roche   Ratslayer/ Glumov/ Jack the Ripper	John Stovkis   Varuka/ Maitre Jacques Danny Taylor   Fagott Ron Thomas   Berlioz/ Archibaldovich/ Marquis de Sade Justine C. Turner   Margarita John Wilson   Pogoda/ Dubley

Production

	Director Lou Contey Set Design Joe Schermoly Costume Design Joanna Melville Props Design D.J. Reed	Sound Design Mikhail Fiksel * Choreography Eileen Mallary Technical Direction Joe Schermoly Dramaturge Maren Robinson	Stage Manager Ellen Willett Master Electrician Jon Nook Production Manager Cortney Hurley Chris Oken   Photograpy

* = Strawdog company member