We know what's going to happen before we even arrive at the theatre. Henry II encouraged his barons to kill Thomas à Becket, then Archbishop of Canterbury, who was then murdered in Canterbury Cathedral. We know it's coming, has in fact happened and, in any case, we are powerless to stop it. The story leading up to that inevitable conclusion has the power to move the soul, more than 800 years after the fact.
Nutley Little Theatre (NLT), in New Jersey, celebrates 75 years of topnotch community theatre with its production of Jean Anouilh's play "Becket or The Honor of God", helmed by Cheryl Rossillo. This strong opening to the season begins in 1170 with an ostensibly nude King Henry II (Eric Wdowiak) bemoaning his fate of doing penance for the killing of his well-loved friend Thomas (Frank Bläuer), who was also a thorn in his side. We are then treated to a return to the events leading up to the penance of the King.
There are many moments of grace in the play and in an intimate house like NLT, audiences in every row may share the nuances of an actor's performance. Jessie Rayot's costume designs are executed beautifully as well, with the Bishop and Archbishop perfectly turned out, as are the dandies in their mufti. There is a physical as well as philosophical opposition, for instance, in Henry's privy council, where we have the rakish Henry with Thomas, newly appointed Lord Chancellor, in conflict with Archbishop of Canterbury Theobald (Gerry Kirschbaum) and Bishop of London Gilbert Folliot (Dan Reed): two men-about-town versus two robed clerics, squaring off for a battle of wits. Theobald, knowing his days are numbered, rattles periodically with a dry cough, while Gilbert strokes his beard thoughtfully and thoroughly, his subtle way of plotting-a medieval Madame DeFarge-for he has plans of his own afoot. Thomas assumes the mantle of Chancellor uneasily at first, not certain he's ready for this honor, but one can almost feel him becoming accustomed to the position. Even as it weights his shoulders, it does not bow his head. Dandy Thomas is on his way to becoming Ascetic Thomas, though as yet he knows it not.
King Henry is an overgrown spoiled child and Wdowiak and Bläuer are well matched indeed. They lock horns frequently and, where Henry is brute force, Thomas is finesse. Delicious! Thomas' humanity is shown when he spares a peasant girl (Kathryn Veronica Risi) from the King's ardor (and certain mistreatment) only to find the King's "favor for favor" rendering him unable to spare his own mistress Gwendolen (Jennifer Wilson) from a similar fate. Gwendolen takes matters into her own hands.
Three English Barons. played by Jim Simpson, Anne Kenny Simpson (in her third pants role for NLT), and Scott Guzzo, form a sort of Greek Chorus. In the beautifully spare set by Marisa Robertazzi, expertly lit by Alex Oleksij, we experience the Barons variously as scenery and hangers-on. There are a handful of moments when these Keystone Barons show that, with the exception of Thomas, Henry does not surround himself with complicated men. Yet, ultimately, these men are savvy enough to do the bidding of their King, when the time comes to martyr Thomas.
The King's family is shown to be as dysfunctional as some families today. The Queen Mother (Janis Wolfe) shrewishly provides a color commentary on everything he does and doesn't do, and his wife, Queen Eleanor (Natalie Arndt), mouths the perennial litany of some wives-"I've given you children and my youth and the best years of my life-yadda, yadda, yadda" and gets the perennial result-Henry flies off the handle. And when he does so, it's to abuse his eldest son-also Henry (Josh Wolfe). It's no wonder Henry III was ultimately in conflict with Henry II.
Rounding out the cast with some great character roles include Pat Little as King Louis of France, Thomas' protector of sorts, and Fred Dennehy as the Pope, and Bob Verbrugge making his NLT debut as Cardinal Zambelli. Anouilh presents a jaundiced view of Church politics, but the portrait resonates in many ways today.
The hallmark of the evening, in this day and age of sound bytes, minimal time and big splashy entertainment, is that this is recreation for thinking adults. Digesting bits of the play well after the viewing provides ruminations for days to come. Anouilh published the play in 1959 and it was produced on Broadway in 1960, though the events happened nearly 800 years previous. People don't change, only their times do. Experiencing the perfidy of men that leads to the annealing fire that reveals the greatness of others is a treat for all seasons.
Evening performances of "Becket" will be on Sept. 11, 12, 18, 19, 24, 25 and 26 at 8 p.m. Matinees are on Sept. 13, 20 and 26 at 2 p.m. The opening night performance of "Becket" is for the benefit of Nutley Family Service Bureau. Order tickets through the NLT web site at www.nutleylittletheatre.com or by calling 877/238-5696.
