EVENINGS OUT
One man, in three roles, tells story of England's gay king
by Eric Resnick
Cleveland-One Edward Two is Frank Barnhart's one-man reflection on Edward II, who was England's most unpopular king. Based on the premise that Edward was gay, the show focuses on the love triangle among the king, his consort queen Isabella, and lifelong "sweet favorite," Piers Gaveston.
Frank Barnhart as Edward II
Cleveland Public Theatre will present One Edward Two, adapted and performed by Barnhart, of Columbus, April 17 26.
home-a scene which culminates with sex embodied in a highly stylized form of dance.
Costume design is 16th century and reflects the time Marlowe wrote the first play with some modern adaptations like leather.
Barnhart, who did extensive historical research while developing this play, has tried to rehabilitate the reputation of England's most reviled monarch.
STEVE WAGNER
If Edward wasn't gay, he did a good job of hiding it. As the crown prince, Edward's show of affection for Gaveston was so demonstrative that his father Edward I had the object of his son's affection banished from the court. When Edward married Isabella, he gave many of his wedding gifts to Gaveston. At his coronation, he publicly proclaimed that he preferred Gaveston to the queen.
Barnhart's play was inspired by Christopher Marlowe's play Edward II, though One Edward Two audiences will have a difficult time finding Marlowe's influence in Barnhart's play. For one thing, Barnhart plays all three roles of Edward, Isabella, and Gaveston. The other roles are played by disembodied voices, all recorded by Barnhart.
Barnhart has also modernizeed some of the venues, like a scene which places Gaveston in a gay bar having just recieved a letter from Edward begging him to return
"By the standards of the 14th century, he was England's weakest king," said Barnhart. "He wasn't good at war. He wasn't interested in the royalty. In fact, he was often out working in the fields with his subjects, but he was not weak. In fact, he had a lot of the qualities we would want in a leader today."
Barnhart is nationally acclaimed as a director, writer, and performer. One Edward Two has played in Columbus, Los Angeles, and New York. No stranger to Cleveland, Barnhart played Darryl in Two Boys in a Bed on a Cold Winter's Night at Cabaret Dada and performed The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me at Akron's Highland Theater.
"I love doing one-person shows," says Barnhart. "I love that personal relationship with the audience."
Barnhart is regarded as a significant performer in gay theater. "There is so much gay theater today," he said.
Regarding One Edward Two, he added, "I hope the audience discovers the importance of a gay play that goes far beyond things like nudity on stage." Of his character Edward II, Barnhart added, “The things that happened to him are not all that different from what can happen today."
Following his run at the Cleveland Public Theatre, Barnhart will star in A Message to Michael at Columbus' Reality Theater, coproduced by Act Out Productions.
As a king, Edward got the shaft-literally and figuratively. He was the only English monarch to die by having a hot poker shoved up his rectum. Barnhart captured the humanity and the quiet strengths of a leader history has been content to marginalize something most gay people in America can identify with.
Showtimes are Fridays, April 17 and 24 at 8:00 pm; Saturdays, April 18 and 25 at 8:00 pm; and Sundays April 19 and 26 at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $12.00 general admission; $8.00 students and seniors. Reservations are required. Call 216-631-2727 for tickets.
APRIL 17, 1998 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE
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