By Rosy Banks
Staff Writer
Combining one of the most spellbinding plays with an actor from one of the most famous theater acting companies in the world, a Pepperdine production of Shakespeare’s “King Lear” will enchant the Pepperdine community in Smothers Theatre at 7:30 p.m., April 8-12.
“It is the Everest for audiences and actors,” Andrew Jarvis, co-director and past member of the Royal Shakespeare Company said. “Lear shows man in the ultimate experience of what it is to be alive. We’ll never go there but we can understand our own experiences better through seeing them enlarged on stage.”
Jarvis is a British actor and visiting professor here at Pepperdine. He is actually the first professor enlisted in a visiting scholars program designed by the office of the provost. Jarvis worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company for eight years, participating in a regional tour around Europe.
Later he joined the Royal National Theatre in England where he toured three times around the world performing Shakespearean plays. Jarvis said he attempts to use that experience to teach students interested in acting at Pepperdine.
Jarvis plays the title character King Lear, who slowly loses his sanity as he tries to test his daughters’ love by dividing up his kingdom. Daughters Goneril and Regan, played by Pepperdine students Taylor Bartolucci and Monica Schneider, deceitfully try to win their father’s affection while Cordelia, played by Tiz McWilliams, sits back hoping her father will trust her love is genuine. Other characters include Jason Murphy as the Duke of Albany, Shawn McCollum as the Duke of Cornwall and Brian Jones as the Fool.
“While there are moments of intense drama, there are also lighter moments that help to fuel the story, and show the audience that these relationships are true to life and do exist,” Bartolucci said. “This show is an epic tale, and one that isn’t produced often so when given the opportunity, you should see it.”
During his time at Pepperdine, Jarvis has used his experiences to teach the cast how to be the best actors possible.
“The challenge is finding the fullest possible expression vocally and physically,” Jarvis said. “In England actors tend to work from the neck up. What I’ve learned is you need to try and find expression in every part of your body. You are your own instrument.”
Cast members have been rehearsing for two months five to six days a week, trying to get parts mastered for the performance.
“A lot of people have put in a lot of hard work to show Shakespeare as it’s supposed to be seen,” Chapman Addox, who plays Oswald said.
Most of the students have never performed Shakespeare on stage. Jarvis has been working with each student’s role, along with preparing his own part.
“The cast has been responsive to accept the challenge,” Jarvis said. “Everyone from the main characters to the spear carriers is so focused, wanting to get it right.”
Combining Shakespeare’s difficult language with the challenge of portraying dynamic, complex characters, students are challenged by Shakespeare more than with any other playwright.
“It’s about releasing the audience’s imagination,” Jarvis said. “Trying to pass on Shakespeare is the most difficult thing in the world to do because in theater, Shakespeare is like playing a Beethoven sonata.”
The last Shakespeare performance by Pepperdine was 2001’s “Much Ado About Nothing.”
Counting down to the performance, actors will continue to take advantage of Jarvis and Co-Director Cathy Thomas Grant’s instruction.
“Cathy and Andrew work extremely well together, so the combination of both their ideas and the talent of the amazing cast has created a production that I’m sure rivals many professional companies,” Bartolluci said.
Tickets are $15 for the public, and $6 for students. They are available by calling 310-506-4522 or online at www.pepperdine.edu/cfa.
April 03, 2003
