“The King’s Speech”

Highly Recommended **** Often, when a film is adapted to a stage production, the story seems different. We all know that on a film,  it is cut and splice and what we are seeing took months to get that way, where on stage it is happening now! Last night at Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s “The Yard” ( this is the new theater that replaced the Pepsi Skyline Stage area of Navy Pier) we bore witness to the North American Premiere of “The King’s Speech” by David Seideler. This is definitely a “history piece” telling us the story of King George  VI ( a wonderful performance by Harry Hadden-Paton) and his stammer/stutter problem.  For those who are unaware of who this King is, he was the father of Queen Elizabeth.

King George VI was known as “Bertie”( his true name was Albert) and was never expected to rule. After all, how can a man who cannot make a speech rule a country? His brother, David , Prince of Wales ( played to perfection by  Jeff Parker) was indeed heir to the throne, so when their father, George V ( deftly handled by John Judd) passes away, it is his to take. The problem is he is in love with an American, Wallis Simpson ( Tiffany Scott ) who by law can never be the Queen.. Bertie’s wife, Elizabeth, Duchess of York ( a delightful Rebecca Night) wanting to be Queen one day, seeks the aid of a speech therapist, Lionel Logue ( superbly played by James Frain). Logue and his wife, Myrtle ( played to perfection by Chicago favorite Elizabeth Ledo, who is always terrific) are not what expected with techniques that are not “normal”, so Elizabeth says “no more!”

Bertie, knowing that he needs assistance goes back and since the world is changing and the Logue’s fear returning to their homeland, Australia during this period, they stay and work with their project. David does resign to leave with his lover and “Bertie” is able to step up to the plate ( so to speak) and greet his domain with the ability to speak and rule.

This is a slick 2 hour production ( with one intermission) on a clever set (Kevin Depinet) directed to perfection by Michael Wilson. The costumes by David C. Woolard are amazing and the technical aspects of the production will hold you to every scene.  The lighting ( Howell Binkley), projections ( Hana Kim), sound and original music ( John Gromada), wigs (Richard Jarvie) and choreography ( Jane Lanier) are perfect. What truly makes this production solid is the full cast of the show. The characters who help re-tell this powerful story showing that one can overcome something if one is willing to work at it and this cast is dynamite.

The cast includes Alan Mandell as the Archbishop of Canterbury, David Lively as the Prime Minister, Chicago favorite  Kevin Gudahl as Sir Winston Churchill, Jeff Diebold, Tim Monsion, Chad Peterson and Trevor Strahan. One can tell that a lot went into this production and it appears they have set Chicago as the kick off point for a play that will travel to other major cities in the future.

Meanwhile, “The King’s Speech” will play at CST thru October 20th with performances as follows:

Stage: The Yard

Show Type: Drama   Tickets range from $50-$90

Box Office: 312-595-5600

www.chicagoshakes.com

ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCES

October 6th- Audio-described with a touch tour at noon, performance at 2 p.m.

October 17th- Open-captioned at both performances

October 18th- ASL Duo-interpreted

Discounted parking is available in the Navy Pier garage ( bring your ticket to the theater for validation)

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com go to Review Round-Up and click at “The King’s Speech”.