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The Yellow Leaf, by
playwright Charles Morey, is a hit. For
fans of classic horror fiction, the name
of the co-lead, Mary Shelley, should ring a bell (think pitchforks and scythes
instead of a clapper).
Yes, she wrote
Frankenstein. The play focuses on a
summer in the Swiss Villa owned by famous English poet and all around
libertine, Lord Byron. The basic
historical events are accurate and includes the rainiest European summer on
record, the dreariness of which leads to a (lucky for us readers) horror story
writing contest; oh, and love triangles
not so subtly insinuated, between poet
Percy Shelley, his common law wife Mary Shelley, her half sister Claire Clairmont, the Lord Byron,
and possibly homosexually Dr. John
William Polidori.
Love triangles, in a
play you say? Yep, love triangles, and
right here at the Pioneer Theater at the University of Utah. These historically likely liaisons are
presented with appropriate tact, but refreshing honesty. The story draws frequent laughter, and wrings
the occasional tear, from the audience.
This alone would mark the play as a success. The set is simple but elegant, and the
costuming is excellent. This would add
up to a very good play.
But it is Mr. Morey’s
dialogue that tips the scales to "It's A Hit.” The conversations, especially those delivered
by Bjorn Thorstad, the lanky spitfire who plays Lord Byron, make you wish you
were a participant. The vocabulary is
just beyond what most of us could piece together in real life, yet it remains
within our listening grasp. In short,
the dialogue among these extraordinary people will leave you laughing, crying,
and most certainly jealous that you did not know them. Although after seeing the play you will feel
you did.
I strongly recommend
the Yellow Leaf. For more information or
to book tickets, go to www. pioneertheater.org.
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