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The Mark of Zorro
Based on the novel by Johnston McCulley
Adapted by Katie McLean
Directed by Dorothy Milne
At Lifeline Theatre
6912 N Glenwood
Chicago, IL
Call 773-761-4477, tickets $25, $20 seniors, $15 students
Fridays at 8 pm
Saturdays at 4 & 8 pm
Sundays at 4 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 30 minutes with intermission
Through July 20, 2008
Exciting Zorro adventure unfolds at Lifeline Theatre
Lifeline Theatre concludes their 25th season with Katie McLean’s energetic The Mark of Zorro based on Johnston McCulley’s 1919 novel. It introduces audiences to the legend of Zorro—a Robin Hood styled bandit who robbed from the rich oppressors of the poor in early 19th Century Spanish California. This legendary hero Zorro (fox) (James Elly) was Don Diego Vega. He was the outlandish nerdy and foppish son of Don Alejandro Vega (Don Bender), a wealthy landowner in California. When injustice happens, the black capped and masked Zorro, armed with pistol and sword, rides to the rescue.
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Lifeline Theatre, under Dorothy Milne’s spirited direction, presents their usual fine production values—as nice abode-styled set (designed by Alan Donahue), terrific lighting (by John Sanchez) with fine sound (by Victoria Delorio) with smart, period-perfect costumes (by Branimira Ivanova) together with a fine ensemble of players. This swashbuckling adventure is a funny parody of the Zorro genre as it engages us from the start with its tongue-in-cheek humor. It is a classic morality play in the sense that Zorro champions the poor and oppressed verses the evil government officials. We see Zorro inspire and recruit the young caballeros to help him in his crusade against injustice. When Don Diego Vega (Zorro) courts Lolita Pulido), the romantic adventure takes new motivation.
The Mark of Zorro has campy villains—Governor (Hanlon Smith-Dorsey), Captain Romon (Robert Kauzlaric) and the over-the-top Sergeant Gonzales (the funny Manny Tamayo). We witness the masked Zorro in several thrilling sword fights (fight choreography by Geoff Coates) that are action paced parodies of those old B films and TV shows. The only element that bothered me in this production was the false sounding Spanish accents that varied greatly among the cast.
Ultimately, Lifeline’s The Mark of Zorro delivers enough action and humor to win our hearts. James Elly’s Zorro was a likeable hero who never takes himself too serious. We like and cheer for him. The cast effectively garners the spirit of each character and each scene to the fullest allowing the fun to wins us. This show is fun, enthusiastically performed and entertaining. It is a fine family show. This production truthfully mines the integrity of McCulley’s novel. The Mark of Zorro is a winner.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2008
Jeff Recommended
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