Zastrozzi: Master of Discipline

While revenge is very good eaten cold, the cast of Balagan Theatre?s Zastrozzi: Master of Discipline, directed by Nik Perleros, kindled the heat with crimes of passion in the pursuit of revenge and unrequited love. Intensified by sword fighting and weapon battles in the intimate Balagan Theatre, the distinct and unique cast of local favorites captured its audience by its fervor and immersion into this band of thieves and spiritual wanderers throughout this psychological thriller written by George F. Walker. Walker?s Zastrozzi, a criminal mastermind of the late 19th century Europe, terrorized the idyllic mountain towns in pursuit of Verezzi, the spiritual guru-wannabe, poet and artist. Accompanied by his band of thieves, Bernardo and Matilda, Zastrozzi trails behind Verezzi, seeking a vengeful death for the murderer of his mother. Ray Tagavilla?s fiery personification of Pietro Zastrozzi controls the fury of this malignant narcissist by tempering Zastrozzi?s vengeful rage with his apparent calculating discipline. Tagavilla?s conviction, demonstrated the brilliancy of a mastermind to the insanity of the obsessed, drives each soliloquy with fervor and engages each character and audience alike as both are drawn into Zastrozzi?s conniving psyche. While Zastrozzi?s perfect plotting for his vengeful denouement is paramount, the spiraling effect of his compulsion ripples throughout his ongoing torment of Matilda, who longs to be the essence of his obsession. Aim?e Bruneau?s electrifying evocation of the salacious Matilda, spurred the passionate undercurrent of Zastrozzi?s manipulations. Since every villain must have his muscle, Don MacEllis revivifies the role of both follower and pillager with his powerful yet paradoxically sensitive portrayal of Bernardo. With zeal, MacEllis yields a pole arm and sword in the fierce fight choreography by Ryan Spickard. With every turn, Zastrozzi?s compulsion to murder Verezzi builds, as does his bedevilment of the passive artist and poet. Chris Bell, in his affable characterization of Verezzi, cleverly depicts the gentile antagonist and collides with the cynicism of Zastrozzi, while Joe Ivy?s fortitude as Verezzi?s manservant, Victor, balances reason against Zastrozzi?s dark driven revenge. Since no criminal mastermind should be portrayed without collateral damage, Monica Wulzen, as a daughter of an aristocrat, remained a constant presence of powerlessness rather than victim in her commanding performance as Julia, who was unwilling to yield to her captors? skewed reality. Zastrozzi: Master of Discipline is playing at the Balagan Theatre, Thursday through Saturday until October 31, 2009. For more information and reservations, go to http://balagantheatre.org