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Austin360 blogs > Austin Arts: Seeing Things > Archives > 2010 > November > 17 > Entry
Review: ‘Baal’
Bertolt Brecht’s theater is designed to alienate, to de-familiarize, to distance. He doesn’t want you to care deeply for his characters, or to forget that you’re watching a play. So, even though “Baal,” Brecht’s first play, was written well before his philosophy of theater fully developed, you still won’t do either.
In the 23 scenes of “Baal,” showing now through Nov. 28 at Salvage Vanguard Theater, you’ll remember that you’re in a theater. With costume racks and light fixtures prominently displayed, you get to see the inner workings of the stage, and everything about the production is lovely to look at.
The second production of this burgeoning company, Paper Chair’s “Baal” is unquestionably gorgeous. Benjamin Taylor Ridgway’s eclectic costumes are delightfully playful and visually exciting. Lisa Laratta’s evocative scenic design is brilliantly paired with Natalie George’s lights. Director Dustin Wills brings together a top-notch design team, combines it with some of Austin’s finest actors, and the result is a truly stunning spectacle.
And yet, pardon my mixing of aphorisms, but in the eye of the beholder, beauty is only skin deep. It doesn’t matter what the surface looks like if something’s rotten underneath.
“Baal” is an ugly play. It consists of an erratic plot line, an incredibly unsympathetic main character, and three hours of overly philosophical script.
Essentially, Baal, a sort of demented Don Juan who doesn’t even take pleasure in his spoils, seduces woman after woman, tossing them aside like empty candy wrappers as soon as he’s finished. Then he kills his best friend, is chased by the police, and eventually gets around to dying alone in the woods. Much to our relief.
While I know that women are supposed to fall over backwards for poets, Gabriel Luna’s valiant efforts as Baal couldn’t convince me that the character was worth all the swooning. Though his steamy scene in the second half with co-star Joey Hood (as Ekart) did come close, the feeling evaporated quickly.
Most of the time anti-heroes have at least one redeeming quality, even if it’s just being witty. Baal, however, isn’t funny and is only occasionally profound. Mostly, he’s emotionally manipulative, exploits or betrays every friend he ever has, abuses pregnant women, and never displays even a glimmer of guilt or remorse.
I shudder to think what this play would have looked like outside the capable hands of Dustin Wills. While the unquestionably talented director clearly enjoys a challenge, it remains to be seen whether audiences will too.
“Baal’ continues 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays through Nov. 28 at Salvage Vanguard Theater, 2803 Manor Road. $15 general seating, $30.00 table seating (with complimentary bottle of gin). www.paperchairs.com
Cate Blouke is an American-Statesman freelance arts critic.
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