TITUS ANDRONICUS
Plays until:	June 9, 2007
Reviewed by:	Louis B.
Official website:	www.itsamobhit.com
	FULL REVIEW
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I’m not certain Shakespeare ever intended his drama Titus Andronicus to play like a comedy.

It’s a blood-drenched tale of deception and revenge in which characters have their limbs hacked off, tongues ripped out and are tricked into eating their own offspring.

Therein lies the problem.

Even in today’s violence obsessed society, it’s difficult to accept the horrors visited upon the characters in Titus Andronicus.

For MobHit’s production of Titus Andronicus currently running at Vertigo’s second stage, director Lawrence Leong has woven in enough purposeful humor to allow his audiences to laugh instead of simply wince or groan.

It’s a most effective approach and one that entertains without actually sacrificing the tragedy at the heart of this gruesome revenge tale.

The Roman general Titus Andronicus (Jason Schneider) returns from a successful campaign against the Goths only to discover the Emperor has died and his sons Saturninus (Luigi Riscaldino) and Bassianus (Ted Lach) are fighting over his crown.

Titus puts his considerable weight and influence behind Saturninus and rewards Bassianus with the hand of his daughter Lavinia (Carol-Anne Day) who has excited the passions of the two brothers.

That was a most clever move on Titus’ part.

Not so clever was his decision to execute the youngest son of the captive Goth queen Tamora (Barb Mitchell).

This sets in motion a series of hideous events.

Tamora excites the loins of Saturninus who makes her his queen, little realizing Tamora’s lover Aaron (Mike Tan) is camped out in the forest helping to plot her revenge.

They get Tamora’s two remaining sons Demetrius (Ian Kilburn) and Chiron (John Knight) to murder Bassianus but putting the blame on two of Titus’ sons.

No sooner are the boys beheaded than Tamora lets loose her sons on Lavinia giving them permission to rape her, cut off her hands and rip out her tongue.

To Day’s credit she is able to gain sympathy not chuckles for the entire second act though she must wander about in bandages mumbling inaudibly.

Leong and his cast take great pains to plumb meaning and power from Shakespeare’s dialogue.

Schneider is particularly effective whether he’s the booming conqueror or feigning madness like some feeble King Lear.

Mitchell’s Tamora makes Lady MacBeth seem like a rather sweet, well-meaning woman.

From her stark look, rigid posture and stacatto delivery, Mitchell becomes the embodiment of duplicity.

Whenever she is around Tan, she is also insatiable in her lust.

It is no wonder the audience delights when she unknowingly devours a dish made from her own murdered sons.

Like Iago, the villain in Shakespeare’s Othello, Tan is supremely evil.

He is like the serpent tattooed on his arm, hissing rather than speaking.

Lach and Knight are genuinely creepy as Tamora’s unconscionable sons.

Jim Andrews’ multi-level set is most effective and Leong makes excellent use of all the various levels.

Andrea Mann’s videos and stills help set the scenes.

So much was done with so few resources.

It boggles the mind what the talented crew at MobHit could do with the kind of budgets Alberta Theatre Projects and Theatre Calgary enjoy.

Though not an unqualified hit, this Titus Andronicus is an exciting and rewarding night out at the theatre.

Unfortunately it ends on June 9 so make the effort to catch it before it is just a memory.