Trinity’s ‘By the Queen’ is provocatively entertaining

Theatre Review by Don Fowler
Posted 1/24/23

Director Brian McEleney has been involved in a multitude of Shakespeare plays over his 40 years at Trinity.

Who better to direct a play about one of the bard’s most complicated characters. …

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Trinity’s ‘By the Queen’ is provocatively entertaining

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Director Brian McEleney has been involved in a multitude of Shakespeare plays over his 40 years at Trinity.

Who better to direct a play about one of the bard’s most complicated characters. And, who better to work with the author, a former student, Whitney White, in her World Premiere of “By the Queen.”

Margaret of Anjou is one complicated character. How better to portray her than by using three actresses at various ages of her life.

Shakespeare scholars who have read and studied “Henry VI, Parts 1, 2 and 3” and “Richard III” will have an advantage in following the play. If you have not, get to the theatre early and read the two articles in the program.

We are first introduced to the older Margaret (Paula Plum) as she speaks directly to the audience, raising questions about her life and how she lived it.

Was it worth it? Which is more important – love or power?

The other characters drift into the cluttered acting space where audience members sit on tables and chairs, intermingling with the players.

They are recreating scenes, trying to get at the heart of the play. It is a bit chaotic.

The three Margarets (Plum, Fiona Marie Maguire and Rachel Christopher) reflect on their actions and decisions at various moments in their lives, while the men in their lives add their own opinions.

“What does it take to survive?” Margaret asks the other Margarets.

“Everything” is the answer.

Eventually, we get a composite of the complicated character and, sorting things out, can draw our own conclusions.

This is not an easy play, folks. It requires your undivided attention. There’s a lot going on and you may, like me, miss some of it.

Part of the problem is the huge space, with actors moving from one corner to the farthest corner. At times, we heard the audience at the farthest corner from us laughing at comments we could not hear.

“By the Queen” is a challenging, innovative piece of theatre. It is not perfect yet, but has the potential, like Margaret, for greatness.

It is at Trinity through Feb. 12. Call 351-4242 for tickets.

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