The Beast in the Jungle
Tickets from $85 Buy Tickets
Cititour.com Review
Is it truly better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all? If you were to ask John Marcher, the protagonist of “The Beast in the Jungle,” the answer would be no. Strangely enough, you may well come to the same conclusion after watching this highly ambitious and extremely moving “dance play,” now mesmerizing audiences at the Vineyard Theatre.
While the show’s basic plot comes from a 1903 novella by the author Henry James, this striking work (clocking in just under two hours without intermission) proves to be a brilliant showcase for the singular sensibilities of three former collaborators: the legendary composer John Kander, whose beautiful waltz-driven score is among his finest; librettist David Thompson, who smartly updates the story (which now takes place between 1968 and 2018) but still maintains the depth of feeling that makes James’ work so timeless; and director-choreographer Susan Stroman, working primarily in her classical dance mode and creating one gorgeous visual picture after another.
Of course, as Kander’s late, great partner Fred Ebb wrote in “Chicago”: “I just can’t do it alone.” And here, this terrific trio is aided by many other talented people, include the fabulous set and costume designer Michael Curry (a veteran of “The Lion King”), who is the master of doing a lot with not a lot, the veteran music director David Loud, and, especially, a top-notch cast of four leading players who bring out all the nuances of the story.
Leading that quartet is the ever-wonderful Peter Friedman, alternately stoic and haunted, as the 60-something John, who mostly narrates the tale of his lifelong misery to his unhappy nephew. Now a highly successful if painfully lonely art dealer, John recalls three episodes –two in the long-ago past and one very recent one -- in which his belief of being unlovable and fear of being loved came together to allow May (the great prima ballerina Irina Dvorovenko, also a fine actress), the woman who might have changed his life for the better, to get away from him.
As we see, the first time, in 1968 Italy, is caused by nothing more than John’s own conviction that he is doomed by a “curse” to live a life of solitude (plus a dash of self-absorption in his own looks and a pinch of seeking something better); while the second occurrence, in 1988 England, is admittedly complicated by May’s very territorial husband (a superb Teagle F. Bougere), who happens to be John’s client. For both of these sequences, the younger John is played by the fabulous Tony Yazbeck whose equally gorgeous technique and physique are both true treats for the eyes, and who exhibits absolutely palpable chemistry with Dvorvenko (who is grace personified, whether in repose or not).
But it’s the last instance, beautifully played by Friedman and Dvorovenko (convincingly made up to look older), that is the saddest, as what seems to be a final chance at happiness evaporates in an instant, thanks to the painful life lesson learned the hard way by the older-and-wiser May.
Ultimately, I think it’s impossible not to learn one’s own life lesson from this piece –which is not to let any sort of fear (real or imagined) stop you from going after what you truly desire. It’s necessary advice for all of us to hear, and I’m glad that Stroman, Kander and Thompson listened to it themselves rather than settle for making a more conventional musical.
By Brian Scott Lipton
Visit the Site
https://www.vineyardtheatre.org
Cast
Irina Dvorovenko, Tony Yazbeck, Peter Friedman, Teagle F. Bougere, Maira Barriga, Elizabeth Dugas, Leah Hofmann, Naomi Kakuk, Brittany Marcin Maschmeyer, Erin Moore
Open/Close Dates
Opening 5/4/2018
Closing 6/24/2018
Box Office
212-353-0303
Theatre Info
Vineyard Theatre
108 East 15th Street
New York, NY 10003
Map
Comments
Sign up for our newsletter !