Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival’s production of “Timon of Athens” makes for compelling and affecting theater.
The seldom-performed Shakespeare play runs through Aug. 3 at Schubert Theatre, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley.
The play is performed in the festival’s “extreme Shakespeare” style, with actors rehearsing the way it is believed Shakespeare's company would have. Actors arrived with their lines learned, rehearsed on their own without a director, raided the costume shop and opened in a few days.
The resulting show has a chaotic spontaneity that seems to run on raw energy.
Michael Doherty, in an eye-popping shorts suit, makes the typical pre show announcements in humorous rhyme, setting the audience up for a wild ride.
Greg Wood is an upstanding and good-natured Timon, who, at first, showers his friends with lavish gifts and never turns down anyone in need.
Doherty also plays Lucullus, one of Timon’s friends who takes complete advantage of Timon’s largesse, flattering him and entreating him with supposed devotion.
Joining Doherty’s Lucullus, are Anthony Lawton as Sempronius and Mark Yowakim as Lucius, who glad-hand Timon while greedily grabbing whatever they can get.
Susan Riley Stevens is intriguing as the mysterious and cynical Apemantus who is skeptical of the motives of Timon’s friends, but whose warnings Timon glibly dismisses.
When Timon runs out of money and turns to his “friends” for a loan, their true colors show through and Timon is left bitter and banished and Woods gives a visceral performance as a shattered and disillusioned man who trusts no one.
Instead of a cave, in this production the rag-clad Timon lives in a trash can and rips through garbage bags for roots to eat, giving it a contemporary spin.
Karen Peakes is achingly honest and stalwart as Timon’s loyal steward Flavius who tracks him down and tries to valiantly intervene on Timon’s behalf.
Meanwhile, Brandon E. Burton is forceful as Alcibiades, a military general who after being banished from Athens gathers his troops to vengefully attack Athens. He is one of the few of Timon’s friends who shows compassion for the broken Timon.
The rest of the cast which includes Tyler Borneo, Maya Jean Marino Cappello, Taylor Congdon, Jamir Fisher, Bella Lucano, Gabe Moses, Teddy Novak, Christian Tuffy and Carl Wallnau, ably plays multiple roles from performers in a Masque to roaming soldiers to the Athenian senators.
Most of the costumes are eclectic and fun to look at, while Wood as Timon is clad in a simple, elegant suit, subtly setting him apart from the others.
The production is fast-paced and smartly done for a rewarding production of a show that is very seldom produced.
“Timon of Athens” is recommended for ages 12 and up because of sexual puns and innuendo, and themes of recklessness and ruin.
Meet the actors for a talk-back after the July 31 show.
The July 27 performance will be audio described for the visually-impaired.
Performance are 7:30 p.m. July 31 and Aug. 1; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. July 30 and Aug. 2; 2 p.m. July 27 and Aug. 3; and 6:30 p.m. July 29,
Tickets are $47 to $52.
For information, call 610-282-9455, or go to pashakespeare.org/.