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 Kate Kennedy’s Sonoma troupe, Avalon Players, presents the hilarious comedy La Bęte by David Hirson playing in Andrews Hall at the Sonoma Community Center, 276 East Napa Street, Sonoma, California.
This fast-paced, naughty comedy pits purity against excess, asking what is art?
La Bęte is a high-octane romp that was voted best play in 1991 and won the 1992 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy.
The story in brief: a small troupe of French actors in the 17th Century are forced by Prince Conti, their patron, to take on a flamboyant, egotistical street performer as part of their company. When highbrow meets lowbrow by royal decree, will anybody’s artistic integrity—or throats—survive intact? The incomparable Valere takes the stage in this faux restoration comedy that left New York audiences rolling in the aisles.
The Sonoma Sun recently noted,
“As they would if a rapper joined the San Francisco Opera, frolics ensue.”
Kate Kennedy and her troupe of Avalon Players presents the hilarious French farce La Bęte playing August weekends in Andrews Hall at Sonoma’s Community Center. This show is a reprise of one of Ms. Kennedy’s favorite Sonoma plays, produced in 1999 to grand audience approval. Kennedy’s troupe of Avalon players, now in their 30th season, are known for their splendid summer entertainment wowing both the Sonoma crowds and visitors, sealing their popularity for all. Moving now from her usual outdoor venues to the newly refurbished Sonoma Stage Works seating in Andrews Hall this show provides an intimate, up-close experience.
Starring in the role of the egotistical, crass and rough street clown Valere, Kate captures the audience with her hilarious half-hour monologue, which begins the show. Full of guffaws, laughs, moans and shouts, Kate occupies the stage as if it were her world, and hers only. She is a master at her job, awing and mesmerizing the audience. Kate’s performance takes you away from the everyday world of Sonoma into the Prince’s castle where the battle for Art is played out. She commands the stage and it is hers, to our delight.
David Hirson’s La Bęte, a faux restoration comedy, that is a 17th Century Moliere-style farce written in rhyming couplets, is actually a 20th century American play that was first performed on Broadway in the early 1990’s. Hirson’s theme, simply put, illustrates the tension between the high-brow aesthetics of fine art versus the street wise, goofiness of crass, low-grade entertainment.
As the show begins, the spoiled and willful prince has grown weary of the plays presented by his troupe and has decreed via a Royal Writ that henceforth his palace actors, led by the stuffy and snobbish, high-minded, stodgy Elomire, shall be joined by his newest discovery, zany street artist Valere. And further, the troupe will perform one of Valere’s shows next.
A painful hue and cry erupts from the troupe who have been forced into this uncomfortable situation through no fault of their own. Chaos ensues as they all argue to maintain their current roles, to perform their current plays in their accustomed fashion. They are threatened by this rabble’s attack on their highbrow art form. So what if the prince is bored; he’ll just have to live with that in order to promote high art throughout the kingdom.
This rollicking, fast paced, hilarious show will keep you laughing well into the night, long after you leave the theater. But even more, it will set you thinking about the nature of art and entertainment . . . and what matters to you. Are you a follower of the crowd-pleasing vacuous silliness in theater or high art intended to educate and elucidate? You might be surprised at how you feel. Consider this question before the show and again after you’ve watched it.
The sumptuous French-inspired, elegant costumes are worth the price of admission alone. Clothed in heaps of shiny and brocaded fabrics, velvets and silks abounding, the men are as dandy as the women, with everyone blazing in bright colours. It’s all eye candy and splendid to witness.
While it is Kennedy’s motley troupe of Avalon players who give voice and life to this performance, it is Hinson’s words that give it weight and force. He is simply one of the funniest playwrights whose work is being performed today. The complexity of his monologs and dialogues is such that repeated viewings of the this play will not leave one bored, but simply understanding more each round. A mere one night’s attendance is delightful; keep it up for the three weeks of the run and you’ll still be discovering newly insightful lines, ones worth quoting and remembering, and ripe with food for thought.
Also starring in this production, in addition to Ms Kennedy who directs the show as well as playing in the role of Valere, are a variety of well-known and new Sonoma Valley cast members. Opposite Kennedy is her favorite counterbalance, acting adversary Bob Smith in the role of Elomire, the high-browed actor. Veteran Avalon player Chris Wall performs as Bejart, Elomire’s sidekick, with Joanne Snyder, Chris’s real life wife, playing his character’s sister, Madeleine Bejart. Whitney Smith, another long-time Avalon player takes on the role of Marquise Therese Du Parc with her stage husband, Du Parc, played by Mark Gibson. Bill Crawford, a first time Avalon player takes on the role of juggling buffoon, De Brie, with his stage wife, Catherine De Brie, being played by Varerie Casale. Brianna McGuire performs as hysteric Dorine, Elomire’s maid, while young Delaney Brumme is the Prince’s servant. Talented, seasoned performer, Anthony Gullikson, is cast as the young prince. Nick Estefon and the cast provide make-up and sets.
Vulgar Valere’s nemesis, Elomire, reacts variously in alarm, panic, refusal and finally defeated resignation. Bob Smith, in this role, is a well-known Sonoma actor, having performed in multiple shows with Kennedy. The two are particularly famous for their repartee as opponents in Taming of the Shrew.
Last winter Sonoma Stage Works, a loosely formed alliance of theater professionals in Sonoma, solicited the cooperation of many community groups in Sonoma Valley raising sufficient funds to transform the theatre seating in Andrews Hall. The new cozily comfortable armchairs arranged balcony style are ready for occupancy, and create an expanded performance floor with improved views and close-up intimacy for the audience. This venue has inspired the theatrical community of Sonoma Valley to launch a new season of thrilling performances.
Avalon Players performances of David Hirson’s play La Bęte opens on August 12 at 7 p.m. in Andrews Hall at the Sonoma Community Center, 276 East Napa Street, downtown Sonoma, California. Continuing evening performances at 7:00 p.m. will be held August 13-14, August 19-21, and August 26-28, with Sunday matinee performances at 3 p.m. on August 15, 22, and 29.
Ticket prices for Avalon Players performances of La Bęte are $22
and can be purchased at the door or by calling 707.996.6003.
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