The Knight of the Burning Pestle by The Red Bull Theater in association with Fiasco Theater at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (review)

Reviewed by: The Knight of the Burning Pestleby The Red Bull Theater in association with Fiasco Theater at the Lucille Lortel Theatre Remson DeJoseph The Knight of the Burning PestlePresented by The Red Bull Theater in association with Fiasco Theater at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, New York City. 1704– 3005 2023. Directed by Noah Brody and Emily Young. Scerny by Christopher Swader and Justin Swader. Lighting by Reza Bejhat. Costumes by Yvonne Miranda. With Jessie Austrain (Nell), Royer Bockus (Michael), Tina Chilip (Venturewell), Paul L. Coffey (Humphrey), Devin E. Haqq (Jasper), Teresa Avia Lim (Luce), Darius Pierce (George), Ben Steinfeld (Old Merrythought), Paco Tolson (Rafe), and Tatiana Wechsler (Mistress Merrythought). Francis Beaumont's The Knight of the Burning Pestleis one of the few Renaissance plays that centers the audience as principal characters. Audience members George, his wife Nell, and their apprentice Rafe interrupt and disrupt the play-within-a-play The London Merchantand push the players to instead "present something notably in honour of the commons of the city," specifically, honoring George's profession as Grocer. The level at which Burning Pestleinvolves these characters throughout the entire play, and the level of disruption, is unique. Red Bull Theater and Fiasco Theater teamed up to produce this meta-theatrical piece, with Noah Brody and Emily Young in the directors' seats, to produce a spectacular performance about the importance of live theater, and the mirth that is made between actors and audience. Before taking their official places, actors wandered slowly onto the stage and mingled with one another on Christopher and Justin Swader's beautifully designed set. Wood panels with a painted depiction of early modern London lined the back wall, a dozen small chandeliers hung End Page 104from the ceiling, and varying musical instruments were set throughout the space. As the cast took their places, wearing bohemian-styled Renaissance garb, Jessie Austrian, Darius Pierce, and Paco Tolson as Nell, George, and Rafe came bustling in from the back of the audience. Productions of Burning Pestlehave to make an important decision regarding George's, Nell's, and Rafe's costumes. Should they be wearing more modern clothing that the audience would wear, distancing them from the actors? Or should they wear costumes more similar to what the actors are wearing onstage, and distance them from the audience? In this production's case, costume designer Yvonne Miranda struck a wonderful balance: George, Nell, and Rafe looked as if they were plucked out of the audience, yet were not aesthetically distanced from the actors onstage: they wore more modern clothing, but when onstage with the rest of the cast, George's button down and blazer alongside Nell's gray and blue jumper blended well with the company's earth-toned tunic shirts and breeches. Brody and Young blurred the lines between actor and audience to emphasize the relationship both have with one another, reveling in a night of camaraderie and joy. Paco Tolson provided hilarity and hijinks as Rafe, who was an obvious annoyance to this troupe of actors on the stage as they constantly changed their production of The London Merchantto fit the needs of George and Nell's Knight of the Burning Pestle. In his Grocer-Errant scenes, he was geared with a pestle hanging low near his belt buckle, a colander for a helmet, and a shield adorned with a sigil of the Burning Pestle (a wooden pestle with fire on the tip, and two low-hanging fruits towards the handle). Rafe proved to be competent in acting, occasionally impressing the troupe. As the play went on, the troupe shifted from annoyance to celebrating his performance, and ultimately encouraged George and Nell to participate in the play as well. Pierce and Austrian's performances as George and Nell were some of the most exciting moments of the production. Scenes when they laughed together, passed each other a flask of alcohol, whispered comments to one another, and held hands were endearing to watch. The couple had an astounding chemistry onstage in their quips to one another, and those moments helped make the characters feel relatable. The family dynamic of the couple and...