Beowulf
The Poets’ Theatre
Multicultural Arts Center
42 Second St.
Cambridge, Mass.
December 10 – 20, 2015
Translated by Seamus Heaney
Directed by Benjamin Evett
Role: Poet 1 (Beowulf)
In Hrothgar’s meadhall Heorot, Beowulf endures Unferth’s boasts with his Geat warriors (Rebecca Lehrhoff, Jesse Garlick, and Rachel Wiese). (PHOTO: Andrew Brilliant)
Beowulf attacks Grendel (Rachel Wiese, Rebecca Lehrhoff, Jesse Garlick). (PHOTO: Andrew Brilliant)
Beowulf approaches Grendel’s mother with his Geat warriors (Rachel Wiese, Rebecca Lehrhoff, Jesse Garlick). (PHOTO: Andrew Brilliant)
Beowulf is captivated by Hrothgar’s queen, Wealtheow (Amanda Gann). (PHOTO: Andrew Brilliant)
Critical Response
“Johnny Lee Davenport (First Poet), noted area actor, offers his commanding presence and deeply resonant voice to complete this trio of poets and embody, principally, the central role of Beowulf.”
—BADman Charles Munitz, Boston Arts Diary, December 11, 2015
“The magisterial Johnny Lee Davenport speaks all of Beowulf speeches and, because he is a Poet, all of the narration about Beowulf. The actor has worked with director Ben Evett before on several of Shakespeare’s plays and with Bob Scanlan, the Poets’ Theater’s motivating engine and angel, in Gilgamesh.”
—Marcia Karp, Arts Fuse, December 13, 2015
“It requires a majestic presence who can be poetry in motion and that would be the redoubtable Johnny Lee Davenport, one of three poets who will take turns bringing the text to life, along with David Gullette, who adapted Heaney’s translation for the stage, and Amanda Gann. . . . We need a Hero with a capital H. Into the breach steps a Geat warrior named Beowulf. . . . ‘I mean to be a match for Grendel,’ bellows Davenport as Beowulf, and you know right away the demon is in big trouble.”
—Rich Fahey, On Boston Stages, December 15, 2015
“Johnny Lee Davenport in the title role heads a cast that’s thoroughly comfortable with the poetic diction—no easy matter. . . . It’s a smart production and an interesting way of experiencing Heaney’s attempt to make the Old English text more accessible.”
—Ed Siegel, ARTery, December 17, 2015
‘The cast throw themselves into the show with a great sense of physicality, as well as theatricality; this could be the 11th century’s version of dinner theater. The characters are oversized, given to boasting and operatic feats of stamina and strength; moreover, the focus here, as with any Poets’ Theatre production, is on the language, and the imagery that the language evokes.”
—Killian Melloy, EDGE Media Network, December 18, 2015
“Johnny Lee Davenport is commanding as Beowulf, literally appearing larger than life, and when he delivers the ancient poem in his booming baritone, you believe that he is the legendary warrior king. “
—Events Insider, December 2015
To see a series of sketches of the show, check out comic artist Aaron Krolikowski’s webpage on The Poets’ Theatre’s Beowulf.
—Aaron Krolikowski, The Sketchbook Reporter, December 12, 2015