As a finale to its 50th anniversary season, the Milwaukee Repertory Theater offers Barrymore, staged in the Rep's intimate, black-box performance space. Written by William Luce, the one-man play chronicles the rise and fall of John Barrymore, the famous younger brother of Lionel and Ethel. Today, John Barrymore is little more than a historical footnote, known best as someone related to actress Drew Barrymore. But long before a teenage Drew had her problems with drugs and alcohol, John was wrestling with his own demons.
Barrymore is a pleasure to watch. It is well-paced and well-performed, as middle-aged actor Lee Ernst captures the essence of what made this man one of the greatest actors of his time. Although Ernst doesn't try to imitate "the Great Profile," he does bring a swagger and elegance to the role. Exquisitely dressed in a suit and hat, the dapper Ernst (as Barrymore) begins the play with a deadpan recitation of a racy limerick. He follows up with a few more ribald limericks before the evening is through, demonstrating that the actor doesn't take himself too seriously.
Barrymore is set in the remaining months of the actor's life, as he attempts to recreate one of his most famous roles, Richard III. Barrymore admits that it would be ridiculous, at his age, to try his hand at Hamlet, another of his famous roles. "I've had one hell of a life," Barrymore says, as he launches into one story after another. He speaks fondly of his family, especially the grandmother who raised him following his mother's death. He has less sympathy for his four ex-wives, dismissing his marriages as a series of "bus accidents."
In essence, this is a play about growing old. (All the comments about old age drew appreciative chuckles from the gray-haired audience.) Barrymore does not want to slip gracefully out of the limelight. Instead, he has rented a theater to assist his failing memory in staging a comeback. ("If I don't do it," he says, somewhat ruefully, "somebody else will.") An offstage presence is his longtime line reader, Frank (Brent Hazelton). Frank represents Barrymore's conscience as well, as he keeps forcing Barrymore to rehearse his lines. But Barrymore, realizing that a comeback is not to be, instead wanders through the hallways of his life.
Ernst recreates more than 40 characters during the play, including gossip columnist Louella Parsons, comedian W.C. Fields and other well-known contemporaries. Ernst doesn't flinch from Barrymore's warts, but he still brings an endearing tenderness to the role. One leaves the play with a satisfied sense of knowing what made this famous man tick.
Opened:
June 4, 2004
Ended:
June 13, 2004
Country:
USA
State:
Wisconsin
City:
Milwaukee
Company/Producers:
Milwaukee Repertory Theater
Theater Type:
Regional
Theater:
Milwaukee Repertory Theater - Stiemke Theater
Theater Address:
108 East Wells Street
Phone:
(414) 224-9490
Running Time:
2 hrs
Genre:
Drama
Director:
J.R. Sullivan
Review:
Parental:
alcohol use, occasional profanity and ribald language
Cast:
Lee Ernst (John Barrymore), Brent Hazelton (Frank).
Technical:
Set: Marc Hare; Costumes: Alex Tecoma; Lighting: Joseph Appelt; Sound: Lindsay Jones.
Critic:
Anne Siegel
Date Reviewed:
June 2004
