Theater: Shakespeare’s “Pericles” at Classic Stage Company

“Pericles, Prince of Tyre” is one of Shakespeare’s later works, one theatergoers don’t get to see very often. Too bad; it is a fairly enjoyable romantic comedy, and in the hands of the Fiasco Theatre Company, anything but a fiasco.

Pericles, the character, travels the Mediterranean more than a Silver Seas cruise ship; he plies various ports and visits royal courts where he nearly wins the hands of several princesses. The voyage is also punctuated by violent storms that invariably capsize his vessels. During one of these storms, his pregnant wife Thaisa (Jessie Austrian) dies in childbirth but the baby Marina (so named because she is born at sea) survives and is left in Tarsus to be raised by the evil King Cleon and wife Dionyza. The wise and beautiful Marina (Emily Young) is later captured by pirates who try to sell her into slavery but she manages to fend them off with aforementioned wisdom and beauty.

The company plays “Pericles” mostly for laughs—the direction by Ben Steinfeld (who’s also composed the incidental music) keeps the humor broad without allowing it to spill into slapstick. The title role is played by four different people—three men and a woman (Tatiana Wechsler). Most of the other members of the ensemble exchange roles seamlessly. It can get a little hairy at times so do pay attention.

“Pericles” is perfect for Shakespeare groupies who want to catch up on the plays they’ve missed—as well as non-Shakespeare groupies who don’t mind supporting a little-company-that-could like Fiasco. The play’s the thing and they play it well. At Classic Stage.