Blood shed by bucketful at Shakespeare NW's 'Titus'

Maybe Shakespeare, like with so much in our culture, is the father of slasher movies. Shakespeare NW 16th season, at Black Rock Amphitheatre at the Rexville Grange, is themed “ The Summer of Blood!: Madness and a thousand terrible things.” “Titus Andronicus” Saturday fully fit the billing.

This is Shakespeare’s first tragedy; he shared authorship. Young, full of pep, stretching for punch and creativity, he succeeded. There is something about youthful imaginations and gore. This fast-paced play lacks only zombies.

Opening scene: Victorious Titus (Trey Hatch, constantly strong and present), returned from 10 years of war, victor over the Goths, turns down the offer of emperor, leaving not only the crown, but daughter Lavinia (Casey Hartman) to Saturninus (Josiah Miller) to be wed.

But no: princely brother Bassianus (Devin Breuer) is Lavinia’s true love. They run off together. Immediately, Saturninus is at captured Goth empress Tamara’s (Carolyn Travis) side, proclaiming her his bride. Miller offers a weak-character emperor, all talk and bad decisions. Tamara is strong-willed, purposeful, and likes being freed. She gets close, caressing and kissing the man in charge.

Call him Saturninus the Sucker. Tamara truly loves the Moor (Tracy Johnson), her captured compatriot. They are freed, as are her sons Chiron (Mandy McNerney) and Demetrius (James Brown), but all are moles in the emperor’s court.

Intrigue increases, and the bodies pile up. Bring a pen so you can track in the program the murders and betrayals as the cast falls, one after another.

This plays out on a bare set and the grass and wood margins near the stage. After intermission the only prop is a huge table and accompanying chairs. Knives and swords of varying lengths are put to appropriate use. More is more here

Don’t think an emperor’s word, or his advisers’, is any more honorable today than 400 years ago. Two bloody heads in bags and a hand chopped off are evidence of deals broken.

Kudos to costumer James Brown and costume designer Lydia Randall for the togas, robes, loose fitting peasant garb and Lavinia’s post-ravished appearance.

Hartman and Director Bjorn Whitney get credit for Lavinia’s quivering, shaking, trembling post traumatic shock performance after being raped. It is a realistic portrayal of a war victim. The performance needs an R rating. It is not for pre-teens.

Travis, McNerney and Brown, as the Goth family, and Johnson, all show a relish and joy in being evil. Come, if only for the scene where the empress, disguised as Revenge, seems to entice Titus, as she had Saturninus in the opening scene. She slinks and slithers and caresses him. Her costume, robes with a scarf masking her face, is simple and effective. Travis gives another strong performance. Hatch matches her.

The gore keeps going until the end. The perhaps original meaning of the song “baked in a pie” is played out.

The weapons were different, but the motives remain the same across the centuries. Shakespeare gets to the heart of tribal hatred for the other, with familial loyalty, vengeance and a love of violence the base, motivating forces.

“Titus” is playing in repertoire with “King Lear” and the locally scripted “The Grimm Shakespearean Tales of Uncle Dicky.” July 28 they offer their IRONMAN performance: all three shows. The season ends August 18.

Go.

For schedule and ticket information: shakesnw.org, (206) 317-3023.