Theater Review by Marcina Zaccaria . . . .
A memorable invocation began the show and, like a rocket, The Poet of the Moon is propelled into the Cosmos in a production by Apollo’s Troupe called A Parliament of Poets: An Epic Poem.
At The Actor’s Temple Theatre these types of pursuits are appreciated. A Parliament of Poets brings us to many lands in search of the greatest truth, one that we discover through constant reflection. In the 90-minute presentation, Ze Ami, Dante, Tolstoy, and the Faerie Queen are mentioned, and the script proves to be something of a scholar’s delight. Don Quixote battled the windmill to earn the respect of his countrymen, but the main character in The Parliament of Poets seems more like an astronaut’s dreamer, wishing for harmony in every land through every possibility of discord. In fact, the words, shared by Frederick Glaysher, are meant to be a lasting call for peace and unity.
With a long wooden staff, Glaysher appears like Prospero, just waking from a tour of travel. Slide projection after slide projection brings us to lands we have never seen, as the most beautiful blue and gold images of the stars dazzle the skies. Standing so tall in a flowy, white shirt, Glaysher may have felt, for a moment, that he, himself, was a conduit to the heavens. With dedication wrapped in the words without great theatricality, this recitation can’t really be described as an Actor’s performance, but rather a meditation on a constant theme.
Will a Journey to the Moon get us all to find the answers to the most difficult questions? Glaysher, admitting his 70 years at the end of the show, explained that creating The Parliament of Poets: An Epic Poem has been a lengthy, devoted journey. He, himself, has crossed time bounds to appreciate that he loves the words and has years ahead of him to discover their greatest truth coming to fruition. Having lived on an Indian reservation, we see his interest in continuing Shamanistic pursuits as he fills The Actor’s Temple with a unique type of optimism through stern practice.
A brief talkback followed the performance, and the humble, careful scholar discussed his books, which were for sale in the back of the theater. If there was any agony in the performance, it subsided while Glaysher’s joy in sharing the Poet’s great journey to the skies remained.
The Parliament of Poets: An Epic Poem. Through March 2 at The Actor’s Temple Theatre (339 West 47th Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues). www.actorstempletheatre.com
Photos: Russ Rowland
