Playwright: Tom Stoppard. At: Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Ct., Glencoe. Tickets: 847-242-6000; www.writerstheatre.org; $35-$80. Runs through: May 1
A round room was an elegant conceit of English 18th-century neo-classical architecture ( say, that of Robert Adam ), to which Collette Pollard pays homage in her handsome, rich scenic design for Arcadia, the opening production in Writers Theatre's new $34-million North Shore home. The scenic design is the only classical flourish in the spacious, sparkling two-theater complex designed by Studio Gang Architects, who have created an instant landmark for Glencoe and Chicago theater.
The production, helmed by founder/artistic director Michael Halberstam, also sparkles as Arcadia must or don't do it. Perhaps Tom Stoppard's finest work, it brims with intellectual and emotional challenges for its interpreters and audiences alike. Viewers should listen hard because Arcadia moves quickly via literate, witty and idea-laden language as well as bountiful comedy. Halberstam and his large cast of top Chicago actors balance everything beautifully, emphasizing the play's intellectual and comedic qualities over what might be deemed romantic or sensual.
Arcadia is set at Sidley Park, the English country estate of the Earls of Croom, with scenes alternating between 1809 and now. The modern plot concerns egotistical literary scholar Bernard Nightingale ( Scott Parkinson ) and his fellow scholar Hannah Jarvis ( Kate Fry ) acting as foil and nemesis. Circumstantial evidence convinces Nightingale that Lord Byron killed a man at Sidley after seducing his wife; but Nightingale's two-plus-two ultimately equals just 3.5 as the 1809 scenes reveal the truth little by little. They focus on the Earl's brilliant 16-year-old daughter, Thomasina ( Elizabeth Stenhold ), a mathematics genius who elucidates then-unknown rudiments of chaos theory, and her deeply learned but brashly amorous tutor, 23 year-old Septimus Hodge, Lord Byron's friend. Will Hodge seduce his pupil or she him? Will he seduce her mother, Countess Croom ( Charon Cross )? Stoppard also manages to relate everything to English landscape design and to classicism versus Romanticism.
The twisting plot lines all are celebrations of passionwhether scientific, artistic or sexualand all have equal value for Stoppard, who suggests that our passions choose us rather than vice versa. Arcadia offers passions expressed and not expressed, repressed and not repressed, andtrue to chaos theoryeach random choice or coincidence renders what follows unpredictable.
Halberstam and his wonderful cast make all of this clear. Parkinsonin a welcome return to Chicagohas a great time playing a Dionysian character with Fry as his prim-and-proper counterweight. Stenholt as Thomasina creates a charming prodigy while Anderson is droll but smoldering as the audacious tutor. In fact, every performance is detailed and intelligent, down to Torrey Hanson's stately butler. Short of a stunning world premiere, this exceptional production of Arcadia is the perfect choice to open Writers Theatre's bright new home.