Reviewed by Judy Richter
"Brilliant" is the only
word for "The White Snake," written and directed by the gifted Mary
Zimmerman. After
proving to be a hit at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland earlier this year,
"The White Snake" has come to Berkeley Repertory Theatre, its co-producer, with nearly
all of the Ashland cast intact plus all of the designers and musicians.
Based
on a classic Chinese fable that has undergone many permutations through the
centuries, this theatrically inventive work has become a love story in
Zimmerman's hands. White Snake (Amy Kim Waschke) assumes the form of a beautiful
woman so that she can thank the man, Xu Xian (Christopher Livingston), who saved her life when she
was very young. She's accompanied by her outspoken, impetuous friend, Green
Snake (Tanya Thai McBride). White Snake and Xu Xian fall in love and marry despite
some of his doubts.
He's
a pharmacist's assistant, but she sets him up in his own shop. It becomes quite
successful because of White Snake's skill in devising effective remedies and
healing people. They're happy until the villainous Fa Hai (Jack Willis), a
Buddhist monk, arrives and tells Xu Xian that he's married to a snake.
"It's just not natural," Fa Hai says, as the 100-minute,
intermissionless tale nears its mythical end.
Zimmerman's
staging employs some seemingly simple but effective techniques, such as a
billowing blue cloth to simulate a river and descending strips of blue cloth to
symbolize a rain storm. White Snake and Green Snake manipulate correspondingly
colored snake puppets before assuming human forms.
Besides
her writing and direction, the play attains its magical qualities through
imaginative design elements, especially Mara Blumenfeld's colorful costumes. Daniel
Ostling's
uncluttered set design is augmented by Shawn Sagady's projections and complemented
by T.J. Gerckens'
lighting. Sound designer Andre Pluess also wrote the music, which is played by three costumed
musicians below the stage.
Besides
the four principals, the cast features seven other actors who play various
roles: Cristofer Jean, Lisa Tejero, Keiko Shimosato Carreiro, Gina Daniels,
Richard Howard, Emily Sophia Knapp and Vin Kridakorn.
Berkeley
Rep's production is a great chance for those who saw "The White
Snake" in Ashland to savor it all over again. Those who are seeing it for
the first time are sure to be delighted and thrilled by its inventive
theatricality.