I had the chance to take in a performance of Barrymore starring Christopher Plummer, a man many consider a living acting legend. Plummer is a legend not only because he can deliver brilliant performances but, in the case of Barrymore, because he can single handedly transcend a rambling script full of throwaway one-liners to deliver a sublime, engaging performance.
The play details one of the last days in the life of famed actor John Barrymore as he attempts to rehearse for a revival of his triumphant title role in Shakespeare's Richard III. It is essentially a one-man show (though Barrymore does banter with his off-stage prompter, Frank).
The script for Barrymore can generously be described as a scattershot caricature. It lacks depth and focus. It's peppered with humorous anecdotes and one-liners but never really delivers anything other than a superficial examination of who Barrymore was as a man. Any time the script seems to veer in the direction of making some sort of point or profound comment it never follows-through.
If somebody had presented me with the script for Barrymore and asked me, "What do you think? I'm gonna rent out the 1,500-seat Elgin Theatre for a 30-performance run and charge $120 per ticket for this show and it's gonna be a hit!" I would've told him he was insane.
Fortunately, the script for Barrymore is merely a pedestal for Christopher Plummer's superb performance. If the script isn't layered or nuanced, Plummer's performance certainly is. In the hands of a lesser actor the play would have been a total bore. Plummer is a spry, energetic 82-year-old. He imbued Barrymore with a strangely magnetic charm that was irresistible. Plummer delivered the role with a sharp wit, ably navigating Barrymore's wild mood swings and ultimately made this unlikely character endearing. There's no denying Plummer is a joy to watch.
It's the mark of a true master to be able to transcend mediocre material to deliver a captivating performance.
BARRYMORE will be staged for 30 performances from January 27 – March 9, 2011 at Toronto’s Elgin Theatre
For additional information about BARRYMORE, visit www.BarrymoreThePlay.com
