A Brave Performance of Mother Courage and Her Children

Mother Courage and Her Children played in the Studio Theatre at Silver Cultural Arts Center April 29 through May 1. The show was a success by all definitions, capturing the audience’s attention with a superb story well-performed by talented actors. Mother Courage, played by Elizabeth Cox, led the cast with her strong character and determined nature. She was the stronghold throughout the play, challenging all actors on stage with her to meet her energy level, with everyone rising to the occasion. Every word spoken was said with conviction, every movement was deliberate and had a profound effect on her character. She portrayed an image of a powerful, yet conniving woman who knew exactly what she wanted and how to get it. Mother Courage’s three children Eilif, Swiss Cheese, and Kattrin, played by Jim LaGoy, Tyler Rich, and Katie Rondeau respectively, were portrayed with courage and passion, even though they each meet gruesome and tragic deaths and face their unfortunate fate with a striking resemblance to their mother’s determination. Several smaller characters that still had crucial roles in the show were the Cook, played by Toby Paul, and the Chaplain, played by Brandon Heath. The Cook’s first meeting with Mother Courage in a kitchen at the Protestant camp was a humorous scene, but future scenes showed another side of the Cook; a serious business proposition from Mother Courage. Two other characters were Yvette, played by Emily Scott, and the Clerk, played by Nina Livellara. The ensemble provided a strong foundation for the show, with members introducing scene changes and time lapses, giving the audience a preview of what was about to come. Their delivery within the scenes was strong and unwavering; despite the horrific terror that was often taking place in the scenes around them. Often, ensemble members were seen in several different roles throughout the show, going from men in the army to farmers and peasants of the country. Transitions from character to character were made with ease and displayed an incredible range of skill for understanding the persona of a character.Scenic Designer Matthew Whiton had the challenge to create a stage that could be used for a campground, a front yard, a kitchen, and a number of other sceneries. Therefore, the scenery was simple, with different elevations on stage via platforms offered actors the ability to separate themselves from the action or to be a part of it. A small hut on stage left offered an unobtrusive prop used in some scenes, most notability the scene with Kattrin’s savage death, but otherwise sat relatively unnoticed.Sound effects for the show added to the show’s authenticity and harsh reality. Cannon fire, red lighting, and gun fire were all used effectively during the show, often causing the audience to start in their seats in surprise. Costume designer Angela Pitrone created masterpieces through her art of costuming. The costumes of the men in the Protestant and Catholic armies were stunning and detailed. Mother Courage’s costume and her children’s clothes were simple but not ragged or distasteful. Perhaps the most interesting part of the show was the use of fake blood to make the death scenes all the more realistic looking. Other parts of the show that caught my eye (or ear, as this case may be) were how the dialogue would change in tempos, rhythm, and method of delivery. Sometimes there was straight dialogue and sometimes it was spoken to a rhythm of a drum or other percussive instrument. There were several times in the show that song was used to portray a message, another effective way to break up the dialogue and to add to the mystery surrounding that which was the story of Mother Courage. Overall it was a well done show with passionate acting and powerful characters that made for an impressive ending to the Music and Theatre Department’s year of Silver shows. I left the theatre visibly moved; touched for the horrific losses Mother Courage had endured because of her dealings with such business.