What: The Wyf of Bathe
Where: Wood Hall, Victoria Conservatory of Music, 907 Pandora Ave.
When: Aug. 26, 28, 31, Sept. 1
Rating: 3 stars (out of five)
Julian Cervello聮s Canterbury Cocktails was a hit with Fringe audiences. The Victoria actor is back with another Chaucer performance, his interpretation of The Wife of Bath tale.
We聮re tipped to Cervello聮s intent by the archaic spelling of the title: The Wyf of Bathe. Yes folks, this one is performed in Chaucer聮s original Middle English (as was Canterbury Cocktails). While admirable in some respects, it聮s also a great way to alienate audiences. I confess to not being versed in Middle English, and so had no idea what was going on 80 per cent of the time. The glossary in Cervello聮s program didn聮t particularly help.
His notion seems to be that performing a contemporary translation of the text would dilute it. States Cervello (in his program): 聯I am distrustful of the way 聭accessibility聮 has become a buzzword in classical theatre.聰
Again, that聮s admirable. But for most audience members (the exception, perhaps, being Plantagenet era scholars) the experience will be that of attending a play offered in mostly incomprehensible lingo.
It聮s a shame, because Cervello 聴 dressed in Wife of Bath drag 聴 is a good actor. As well, the show is well directed. Members of the Society for Creative Anachronism may find this an absolute hoot. Others, perhaps not so much.
