FIBONACCI, seen in this 2004 Ziggurat production as a sage narrator who gives framework to the story of “Salamanticus,” is played by Tom Marion, who is returning to Ziggurat Theatre after 17 years.
The Ziggurat Theatre Ensemble is performing two different plays at two equally different venues this week and both performances are worth the effort to find them.
Through this Sunday at the Bowdoinham Town Hall, the professional theater troupe is presenting “Salamanticus,” a play written and directed by Ziggurat Theatre founder Stephen Legawiec. It is an odd but enjoyable diversion that, much like last year’s wonderful “Aquitania,” takes place in a mythical kingdom and involves a search for a book that contains the answers to life’s questions. Legawiec humorously weaves in references to the mathematician Fibonacci, the seductive powers of the tango, and uses the “plate of shrimp” theory describing the philosophical idea of cosmic unconsciousness and random coincidences from that cult classic “Repo Man.”
The overall plot may rely a bit too heavily on random coincidences but each scene stands well on its own, due in part to the movement direction by Dana Wieluns Legawiec and stage manager Hanna Brooks.
The ensemble cast makes the most out of each scene; each flick of the wrist, nose crinkle and bent-legged jig enhances the comedic delivery of a bon mot. The audience sits within inches of the three-quarter stage, allowing every member to get a front row view.
Not that there are elaborate sets or fancy footwork — though the tango scene is not to be missed for its artful blend of graceless charm. Production design is very simple; there are few props, minimal set design and the music is pre-recorded to give cues to scene changes. The costumes and makeup catch the eye, the actors’ talent maintains the focus.
Tom Marion, returning to Ziggurat Theatre after 17 years, opens the show as Fibonacci, a sage narrator with a credible Italian accent who gives framework to the story. Kathleen Nation returns from last season as the deliciously devilish Amah, a usurper whose greedy desire for the throne drips from her drawl. Xander Johnson is equally entertaining as the slack-jawed, sophomoric Hoop Seller and part of the trio in search of the Salamanticus book. Laura Collard sweetly plays The Vagrant who joins him, as does Dana Wieluns Legawiec, who plays the opportunistic Kai Dancer and acts as much with her body language as she does with her voice. She and Johnson are especially fun to watch even when their characters are not center stage.
Other members of the cast include local Vince Shatto, who plays a weary king; Kerry Ipema as a butterfly Empress and Patrick Brady as the Amah’s mute astrologer.
Much of that same prodigious talent was seen in Bath Shakespeare Festival in City Park, where the Ziggurat Theatre Ensemble — in partnership with Patten Free Library — closes its production of “Twelfth Night” this Saturday at 1 p.m., so there is still time to see this amusing production.
If you have never read or seen a film version of Shakespeare’s comedy, it is the tale of two twins separated during a shipwreck. Viola, believing her brother dead, wears his clothes in order to attain position of servant in the household of Orsino, a count betrothed to Olivia.
To make a long story short — and, FYI, the play runs just under two and half hours — Viola falls in love with Orsino, Olivia falls in love with her, and the servants of Olivia’s household do some matchmaking of their own and hilarity ensues.
There are some wonderful touches Legawiec adds to The Ziggurat Theatre Ensemble production. Like many directors, he tinkered with the time setting, placing “Twelfth Night” in 1914 or so with costumes, music and the Titanic shipwreck as the only game changers.
Since the weather was iffy on the date of this review, the play was performed in the gazebo, which the ensemble used to great effect. As in Bowdoinham, the seating nearly surrounds the action, so it is easy to feel included in the performance and, indeed, the actors related a line about a beagle to an actual beagle in the audience. Great adlibbing for their part.
But the most notable and positive change is Patrick Brady as the fool Jeste sings many of his lines, and sings them so well one wonders why he is mute in Salamanticus. His rendition of Aerosmith’s “Dude (Looks Like A Lady)” will cause side stitches. He opens and closes the play with two beautiful ballads and, along with other members of the cast, sings two PDQ Bach acapella tunes during intermission.
Xander Johnson again shined playing another fool in a trio, with the fabulous Clay Hawks and David Greenham, both locals, playing Fabian and Sir Toby Belch respectively.
Shakespeare gave these three characters some of the best lines of dialogue which these guys then ratcheted up the humor adding physical comedy and sight gags.
Dana Wieluns Legawiec plays the bawdy Maria, Olivia’s maid, to near perfection. Lily Ali-Oshatz gives her character Olivia just the right amount of flightiness to believe her fickle behavior. Tom Marion uses his professional gravitas to great degree in making his Malvolio prissy prim and proper. Kerry Ipema has great comedic timing in her role as Viola.
Whether it was intentional or not, she sometimes gets overshadowed when sharing the stage with the bumbling guys but it may just be because that superb trio of jackasses steal the spotlight.
As one character claims, “The Salamanticus allows us to rise above and see the pattern” and the pattern of the past summer seasons of Ziggurat is that this theater troupe based in Bowdoinham can make the most of the actors in their ensemble.
Why drive to Portland when the professionals are already here?
For more information, visit www.ziggurattheatre.org or http://bathshakespeare.org.
MELISSA ORTH is a theater reviewer for The Times Record.
“Salamanticus”
WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 8; Friday, Aug. 9; and Saturday, Aug. 10,
7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 11, 1 p.m.
WHERE: Bowdoinham Town Hall
TICKETS AND INFO: 854-8882
“Twelfth Night”
WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 7, 7 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 10, 1 p.m.
WHERE: Library Park, Bath
INFO: info@bathshakespeare.org or call 854-8882
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