Playwright: Christina Calvit,
adapted from Thomas Hardy's novel
At: Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood
Phone: (773) 761-4477; $20
Runs through: April 20
Adaptation of great literary works takes courage to tackle, especially when the work in question is by an author whose presence looms large in literature, and whose very works are, well, large. An adapter faces a number of challenges: how does one distill the essence of a great—and weighty—work into a time frame palatable for modern audiences? How does one compress a multi-faceted, richly textured story without losing some of the author's intent, or voice? How does one take a work that transpires in the English countryside, on a sheep farm no less, and make it realistically play in a theater that is neither wealthy in space or budget?
The answer that Christina Calvit must have come to as she adapted Thomas Hardy's portrait of a feisty British female sheep farmer can be boiled down to one word: imagination. Calvit, along with director Dorothy Milne, have taken Hardy's work, which portrays a liberated, powerful woman long before her time, and admirably scaled it down, retaining much of the flavor, sense of place, and rich characterization for which Hardy's novel has justly been recognized.
Far from the Madding Crowd is the story of Bathsheba Everdene (Jenifer Tyler), who has inherited her uncle's farm in Hardy's fictional Wessex County. Bathsheba, young, beautiful, and determined, takes on the management of the farm single handedly. She is pursued by three determined suitors: an earthy and dispossessed farmer whom fate has dealt a cruel hand, Gabriel Oak (Patrick Bushill), a dashing military officer who is more than a bit of a cad, Francis Troy (William Smillie), and a staid landowner, William Boldwood (Peter Greenberg). Hardy, when he created Bathsheba, made a confident statement about the power of women, and how a man might be the least useful tool on the farm. It's easy to see why the female creative team behind this production was drawn to the story.
Calvit and Milne have done solid work here. Working with scenic designer Alan Donahue and lighting designer Kevin Gawley, Milne created an enormously versatile set that still manages to convincingly evoke time and place. Bare trees, stone outcroppings, a floor of wood planking and straw, and a stool and table demonstrate how taste and creativity can be admirable stand-ins for big budgets. Milne has added a whimsical touch, too, when she has the actors also portray the parts of the farm animals. It's this kind of thought and dedication that has made Lifeline the strong little theater that can.
Milne has assembled a talented ensemble to bring Hardy's world to life, headed up by the lovely Jenifer Tyler, who displays great reserves of feminine strength, while being provocative at the same time. Her trio of suitors are all on the mark as well.
In short, this is a capable, inspired production and for those who love the romance and rich emotional landscape of Thomas Hardy, one that is well worth seeing.
