Dan Willens in Beantown Bloggery

Wheelock Family Theatre has produced here a greatly approachable introduction to Charles Dickens's most famous novel, A Tale of Two Cities. Dwayne Hartford's updated language makes the narrative accessible to the modern audience, even to those who may not be familiar with the novel itself. In order to keep the script at a reasonable length, Mr. Hartford has also trimmed the tale to its essentials--it is tightly focused on the major plotline of the novel and the 10 or so characters around which it revolves.

Particularly notable performances come from Bill Mootos as Sydney Carton (who also acts as the narrator) and Jane Staab as Madame Defarge. Mr. Mootos aptly represents Carton's initially dogged cynicism, as well as its gradual softening towards his eventual redemption. Ms. Staab's portrayal of Madame Defarge's lust for vengeance, on the other hand, heightens intensely as the plot reaches its climax. The costumes are rich and convincing, and the set, austere by design and with only a few changing elements, is cleverly used to represent everything from the galleries of a London courtroom to the streets of Paris during the storming of the Bastille.

Wheelock Family Theatre, true to their mission of engaging the whole family in the theater experience, has also spent the time to create a helpful study guide providing discussion questions for the audience. At each show, they also offer an event (in our case, a debate on the themes of the narrative) to further encourage audience discussion and participation.The play is runs through the end of the month so you've got two more weeks to kick it in gear and get over there and see it.

Sheila Barth Review

Chelsea Times, Everett Independent, Salem State Newspaper
Wednesday November 18, 2009

Many will remember studying Charles Dickens’ classic tale of the French Revolution, “A Tale of Two Cities,” as high school freshmen, so the fact that Wheelock Family Theatre is recreating it on stage with an impressive cast is exciting.
Dwayne Hartford’s over two-hour adaptation of Dickens’ gut-wrenching tale is intriguing enough to keep the audience’s attention, interweaving its bi-country characters and plot in this 18th century of class separation, nobility vs. selfishness and romance, with deadly festering, vengeful overtones.
However, something gets lost in the shuffle, which, hopefully, can be easily corrected. The production has several elements of good theater- a stark, barren, ugly structure of tri-level, angular wooden posts, with platforms, designed by Anita Fuchs, and simplistic props that emphasize the ugliness of the era. Lisa Simpson’s costumes with brocade and lace elegance and elaborately, curled wigs for noble’s strike an overt contrast to the peasants’ homely attire. However, when actors playing multiple roles wear the same costume but are thinly camouflaged by simple touches, it’s confusing. Also because the play switches quickly from Paris to London, yet everyone is speaking English regardless of their role. M. Lynda Robinson’s line as proper British nanny Miss Pross is laughable when she laments in Paris, “Oh, why doesn’t everyone speak English?” Uh, they are…
There are real attempts at humor to lighten this masterful story of self-sacrifice, love and revolution, which seem sorely out of place. With a festering revolution, a child killed by a nobleman’s carriage, murder, unreasonable incarceration In France’s Bastille, the ultimate, frightening guillotine execution committed offstage but with Dewey Dellay’s terrifying sound effects and recorded crowds cheering at each bloody swipe of the blade-this isn’t funny, folks.
The problems rest with Susan Kosoff’s direction. The actors don’t project enough, making it difficult to hear them, so the audience is reliant on two stage monitors projecting the dialogue. While reading the monitors, we’re distracted from powerful scenes.
Lighting designer John R. Malinowski adds poignant touches, especially during bloody scenes, when he drenches the background in red light, but overall, rapid scene changes from Paris to London are indistinguishable.
Also, there’s allegedly a strong resemblance between self-effacing, alcoholic, cynical British lawyer Sydney Carton and French aristocratic immigrant Charles Darnay, but with slender Paul Melendy as Darnay and larger-built Bill Mootos as Carton, the only apparent likeness is their brown wigs. Both deliver find performances, though. Melendy is believably honorable as a French nobleman who renounces his birthright and heritage because of his father and uncle’s cruelty to the lowly masses and servants, while Mootos is impressive as the play’s narrator and hero. His soliloquies and ultimate sacrifice are moving.
Jane Staab as bloodthirsty, vengeful revolutionary Mme. Therese Defarge, who knits incessantly as she calmly plots her overthrow of royalty and nobility, is effective, as is John Davin as her husband, Ernest Defarge. Pretty Robin Eldridge as sweet Lucie Manette is also fine, but she speaks too softly. David Rothauser as her befuddled father, Dr. Alexandre Manette, who was unjustly tossed in the Bastille Tower-No. 105- arouses our sympathy; Cliff Odle as banker Jarvis Lorry and in two lesser roles is fine, as is veteran actor Dale Place in three roles- the evil Marquis de Evremonde, British lawyer Stryver, and governor of the Bastille.
Playwright Dwayne Hartford said his adaptation is relevant to today’s society and times- the best of times, the worst of times, with genocide, revolution, poverty and greed occurring globally. This is the right time to see “A Tale of Two Cities,” but with some simple changes.

New Photos by Gary Ng

Robin Eldridge (Lucy Manette) and David Rothauser (Dr. Manette).

Bill Mootos (Sydney Carton) and Paul Melendy (Charles Darnay).

Best of Times, Worst of Times

A Selective Timeline:

1760 George III becomes King of England. Colonial population 1.6 million
1763 Treaty of Paris; borders of United States established
1764 Mozart writes his first symphony, at age eight
1767 Daniel Boone crosses Appalachians, keeps heading west
1768 New York Chamber of Commerce established
1773 Boston Tea Party. 342 chests of tea go into the drink December 16
1774 First Continental Congress convenes, in Philadelphia, Sept 5
1775 Patrick Henry says "Give me liberty or give me death!"
1776 Common Sense written by Thomas Paine
1776 Declaration of Independence drafted by Thomas Jefferson, with John Adams
1778 France declares war on England, becomes ally of America
1783 First daily newspaper is Pennsylvania Evening Post
1788 First settlement in Ohio is Marietta, named for Marie Antoinette
1789 French Revolution. Bastille falls Jul 14. Declaration of Rights Aug 26th
1789 Mutiny on the H.M.S. Bounty; survivors establish Pitcairn Island Colony
1790 Supreme Court meets for the first time; John Jay is Chief Justice
1791 USA Federal capital to be established in swamplands on the Potomac
1791 First ten Amendments are Bill of Rights that go into effect this year
1792 New York Stock Exchange organized by brokers meeting under a tree located on what is now Wall Street.
1793 War between England and France. U.S.A. declares neutrality
1793 Reign of Terror in France; 1st republican constitution in France adopted
1794 Maximilien Robespierre was guillotined in Paris without a trial
1795 Washington poses for Stuart's portrait, which is now on USA dollar bill
1796 Washington's Farewell Address