Review
Beau Brummell
59E59 Theaters
May 28, 2006
VanLoan
vanloan@nyconstage.org
Part of the annual Brits Off-Broadway festival, Beau Brummell
is the story of the man who invented the suit and thus taught the modern man to
dress. It's also the cautionary tale of what can come from believing one's own
press.
The toast of London society, Brummell was known for his wit and insolence as
well as his being a fashion pioneer. At the height of his fame, he had private
audiences (who paid top dollar) watch him dress. However at a state function,
Brummell makes the mistake of asking the Earl of Northrop, "Who's your fat
friend?" Unfortunately, the friend turns out to be England's Prince Regent (who
later became King George IV). Brummell's fall from grace is swift; in order to
maintain his lifestyle he takes to gambling. Soon, his debts prove too great and
he flees across the English Channel to Calais, France to escape imprisonment.
Slowly slipping into insanity, dressing for hours in expectation of having
callers, regaling his manservant, Austin with escapades both real and imagined,
Brummell cuts both a fascinating and tragic figure. Despite the fact that he
single handedly dragged men's fashion out of the gutter, Brummell is basically
famous for being famous or as Austin sharply puts it, "You're known only because
important people know you". To which Brummell replies, "And you're known only
because you're with me!" Their stifling co-dependency reflecting on former days of
glory becomes a sad reflection on the cult of celebrity.
From the opening scene which finds him naked in his bath about to slash his
throat, Ian Kelly is excellent as Brummell. Even when Ron Hutchinson's script
goes off track in mid-section (getting caught up in the politics of the masses),
Kelly carefully steers the action back to himself and his clothes (especially
that scarf!).Ryan Early is likewise as good as Austin combining equal measures
of compassion and exasperation towards Brummell. Mr. Kelly has also written a
biography of Brummell (on sale in the lobby) so he brings added background
material to enhance his performance. Yet once the mirror has cracked, there's no
going back.
...end
|
