"Are you ready to be astonished?" asks Louis de Rougemont, the English 19th century teller of tall tales, as portrayed by the talented, versatile and limber Michael Countryman. A clever and diverting family "entertainment" subtitled, "The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont" (as told by himself), this sublimely staged and performed narrative has more to offer than many a spectacle-filled theatrical. A cousin in spirit to Baron Munchausen, the 18th century baron famed for relating his incredible adventures, astounding feats and escapades (as told by others, and in Terry Gilliam's 1988 film), Louis de Rougemont almost rivals his predecessor's ability to amaze and confound. Is all or just a bit fraudulent? Is Louis nuts, or just a bit of a dreamer?
Whereas Gilliam used the budget-be-damned resources of Hollywood to the fullest to conjure up the baron's most fantastical series of adventures, Countryman works on a virtually bare stage with only the support of two gifted actors Donnetta Lavinia Grays and Jeremy Bobb who portray a host of characters, provide a bounty of special effects and produce whatever sounds are required.
The cast of three, under Lisa Peterson's direction, work hard and effectively to make this show a 90-minute delight.
Inspired by Sarah Burton's The Imposters, playwright Donald Margulies (Sight Unseen, Dinner With Friends) has written a marvelously modest vehicle that honors both the art of story-telling and the ability of actors to create worlds that don't require more than an audience's willingness to see them.
Countryman is almost immediately disarming as the Victorian who leaves his mother and home at the age of sixteen for life-time of adventure. A sickly but imaginative child, Louis braves the unknown in order to live an extraordinary life. That we are willing to believe in his action-filled, imaginatively embroidered adventures is partly due to the seriously invoked personality created by Countryman.
At first, there is only a ghost light plopped in the middle of an almost empty stage (designed in the less-is-more style by Neil Patel). But if you look carefully to the sides, you can see all kinds of props and things that will go clang and bang and that will soon be in the hands of Grays and Bobb. These two also have the daunting task of multiple role-playing, including pirates and Aborigines, in various quickly changed get-ups and using differing accents. Bobb most endearing impersonation is as Bruno, a frisky and devoted dog that becomes Louis' best friend.
As for Louis, he has no lack of picaresque adventures fending off flying wombats; fighting a giant octopus while pearling in the Coral Sea; being marooned for years like Robinson Crusoe; becoming the "warrior" husband of an Aborigine chief's daughter; and begetting two children, Blanche and Gladys.
It won't spoil a thing to tell you that Louis finds his way back to London and a reunion with his mother. Considering that Louis gets good Queen Victoria to believe his stories and by insisting to us that "every word is true," should make it easier for you to swallow them. I have to admit that after seeing Louis ride on the back of a giant sea turtle, I was willing to believe anything.
Donnetta Lavinia Grays & Michael Countryman
