Kristopher Lee Bicknell, performs in “Dramatis Personae” in the Jane Dibbell Cabaret. Written and directed by Sean Dillon and Curtin Krick, the one-man show transported the audience through the history of theater. However, the show doesn’t quite go according to plan. The audience is made to believe Bicknell’s show goes awry when the mishaps are really part of the performance. / photo by Julian Mininsohn
Cody Luk
Arts Editor
University of La Verne alumnus Kristopher Lee Bicknell’s one-man show “Dramatis Personae” astonished the audience in the Jane Dibbell Cabaret last weekend.
The hour-long piece written and directed by Associate Professor of Theatre Arts Sean Dillon and director Curtis Krick, originally was performed for the 2014 Hollywood Fringe Festival this spring.
The production deconstructed important roles in theater history through many centuries, from Ancient Greece to the present day, and Bicknell’s performance was a masterpiece.
Bicknell unraveled the varying styles of historical theater effortlessly, executing many different roles.
The show started when Bicknell pulled the curtains himself and told the audience “I will perform what is truly a one-man show.”
He put on his costume on stage while doing a brief introduction.
He first portrayed an Ancient Greek tragedy with extensive passion. Emotions burst out when he played an old man while wearing a silver-faced mask.
The tragedy was followed by a medieval revenge play. He portrayed an Englishman and the segment was a bloody glory of betray. Bicknell spoke calmly and acted a much different role than the passionate one that preceded.
In the middle of the scene, Bicknell turned on the television screen on stage and read lines back and forth with the character on the screen, also played by Bicknell.
The role of a comical commedia dell’arte servant from the Renaissance followed. The play was inspired by a Siena Library text and the costume was based on Siena drawings. Bicknell presented the entire role in mime. The overall feel was very cartoon like. Bicknell also took off practically his entire costume and ended the segment with the audience laughing hysterically.
Afterward, Bicknell portrayed a sorrowful Russian with a secret. He turned on the television screen to interact with it, but what appeared to be a technical issue occurred. The wrong video played but Bicknell continued acting, giving the impression of an improvisation. However, the technical issue was actually intentional but this aspect gave the play an unexpected twist.
The last segment, or what appeared to be the last segment, was about a Texan sculptor. Bicknell acted with another character through a prerecorded audio. However, technical issues arose again, making the audio almost inaudible. Initially, the audience laughed as Bicknell tried to subtly fix the audio cord, but when the problem was not resolved, Bicknell broke down.
“I’ve had some problems and… I thought I could do this by myself,” Bicknell said while crying.
The audience members were shocked and some tried to comfort the actor by saying “You’re going to be fine.”
However, Bicknell was not convinced and continued to talk about his disappointments in himself.
“I just should’ve known that something like this would’ve happened,” Bicknell said.
Bicknell also talked about the difficulties to putting on an one-man show. He told the audience members, who were in shock and sympathetic, to go home.
“How did I end up doing this?” Bicknell said. “I’m not a genius and I’m not the best actor, but I do want to be the best actor I can be.”
Bicknell’s passionate outbursts on his meaningless life earned cheers and support from the audience, but he suddenly smiled and told the audience that all that just happened was an act, causing a great shock to the audience that everything – from the technical difficulties to Bicknell’s breakdown – were all nothing short of a planned progression.
Bicknell explained the lines he was reciting were words he could relate to and would also personally say.
“Some actors are lucky enough to have work written for them or he finds existing material that (can be relatable),” Bicknell said. “Tonight’s performance has been an example of both.”
The transition to the last segment, or the lack thereof, was witty and gave a powerful ending to the show. Bicknell’s outbursts on the meaning of life are relatable to everyone because all human beings have a vulnerable side.
Bicknell delivered the experience of a true one-man show, from the theatrical lesson in itself to the inside look at every actor’s mind. The ending was brilliant and relatable, making the whole experience worthwhile.
Cody Luk can be reached at cody.luk@laverne.edu.
