Farinelli and the King
4.5 out of 5 Stars
Mark Rylance is theater’s greatest living actor. Before I had ever even heard of him, I was informed of this by a reliable source - our theater-going friend Margaret. Just before the start of the show, Mr. Rylance’s position in the pantheon of actors was spontaneously reconfirmed by the young woman serving me milk duds and scotch. Two rounds of Nice Fish at St Ann’s Warehouse and his Academy Award-winning performance in Bridge of Spies have only further served to support Margaret’s claim.
When you enter the Balasco Theatre, you are immersed in 18th century Spain with the costumes, the candlelight, and era-appropriate instruments setting the tone for this ethereal musical. Farinelli and the King is based on the psychologically tortured life of King Phillipe the V and the castrato Farinelli. These two unlikely friends form a bond that spans nine years and brings respite to the King and the harried Spanish court.
Written by playwright and composer Claire van Kampen and starring the magnificent Mark Rylance (the real-life husband and wife team), Farinelli and the King transports and charms with clever writing, superb acting, and otherworldly singing. These combine to make the performance the adult fairy tale that it is. Further enhancing the fantasy is Mr. Rylance’s style of not actually breaking the fourth wall as much as moving it to the rear of the theater and including us all in this fanciful journey. This play is by turns captivating, funny, heartbreaking, and inspiring.
Mark Rylance as King Phillippe V
Two actors play Farinelli, often on stage at the same time. Sam Crane is the actor and Iestyn Davies is the singing voice. Both are compelling on stage and even if opera isn’t your cup of tea, the singing is transportive.
Iestyn Davies and Sam Crane as Farinelli
Other standout performances come from Huss Garbiya as the beleaguered court physician Dr. Jose Cervi, and Edward Peel as Chief Minister De la Cuadra who tries in vain to keep King Phillipe and the country on a steady course.
Huss Garbiya, Mark Rylance, Edward Peel
It is Mark Rylance as King Phillipe who owns this production. His magnetic stage presence is astonishing and he masterfully leads us through this journey of madness and joy.
Why we went: Mark Rylance and Claire van Kampen
JMG & MSG