THE HANGOVER REPORT – Red Bull Theater’s visceral revival of THE CHANGELING doesn’t shy away from the dark stuff

changelingFor a number of years now, Red Bull Theater has been making a name for itself for mounting highly charged revivals of oft-overlooked dramas, particularly of the Jacobean ilk. Their previous production, a no-holds-barred staging of ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore, certainly fit the bill – and so does their latest, a very fine, visceral revival of Thomas Middleton and William Rowley’s juicy The Changeling which recently opened at the Lortel.

As always, Red Bull is not one to shy away from darker, more controversial themes; their hot-blooded productions could give most contemporary R-rated flicks a run for their money. This Changeling, helmed stylishly and unflinchingly by artistic director Jesse Berger, fully embraces the perversity and inversion of the lopsided Romeo & Juliet (with a good dollop of Macbeth) tale. Suffice to say, it all ends in a bloodbath and on a morally queasy tone. Indeed, Mr. Berger’s gleeful engagement in the Jacobean proceedings borders on the sadistic. I was repelled and seduced all at once, which is high praise. This depravity is admirably echoed in the production’s spare, haunted look – which nods subtly to S&M (sub) culture (set design by Marion Williams, costume design by Beth Goldenberg, lighting by Peter West). The cast is mostly marvelous down to the the minor roles, with particularly excellent work from Manoel Felciano, who imbues his De Flores with just the right mixture of vulnerability and monstrosity to draw you right into the play’s bleak heart.

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THE CHANGELING
Off-Broadway, Play
Red Bull Theater at the Lucille Lortel Theatre
2 hours, 10 minutes (with one intermission)
Through January 24

Categories: Off-Broadway, Theater

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