Nihilists and Aesthetes of the World Unite in Vera Wilde

A new ambitious production of Shotgun Players, directed by Maya Gurantz, combines composer Chris Jeffries’ original musical play with the company’s commendable ability to tackle the complex and the unfamiliar with youthful ease, bringing to the stage the most controversial fictional and historical situations. In the play, the genius of Oscar Wilde and his personal rebellion against the society, which simultaneously cuddled and oppressed him, is paralleled by the revolutionary fervor and extreme sense of justice of Very Zasulich—a Russian terrorist and the apostle of the nation-wide rebellion of the masses against tsarist oppression. Both historical figures who lived in very dissimilar worlds collided only once in Wilde’s play, “Vera, or the Nihilists,” but in Jeffries’ musical they are moving toward each other from different time perspectives—Vera forward, Wilde backwards—to meet each other at some fictitious point. A small, yet amazingly multitalented cast braves the complexities of the material with ardor. Sean Owens, who plays Oscar, bears an uncanny resemblance to the King of Paradox, if only by means of his superb acting. Danielle Levin, Edward Brauer and Tyler Kent, who each play too many roles to list, are excellent in each incarnation. Alexandra Creighton plays Vera. All actors sing, of course, accompanied by a live quartet of musicians. The only note of discontent slipped into the theater’s own notes on the play: “In today’s world this is still true—rather than honoring our revolutionaries, they are cast as villains, terrorists, or freaks.” Now, now, let’s watch our language, shall we? This critic cringes at comparisons drawn between young Russian nobles from a century back, who bombed the tsar’s carriage, and contemporary terrorists who bomb planes, trains, office buildings and school buses. (Kind of like if you are a Hillary supporter, you probably wouldn’t vote for Palin, although they are both women). Vera Wilde runs through October 26 at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Avenue, Berkeley. Tickets $17-25, reservations strongly advised. Call 510-841-6500, or visit www.shotgunplayers.org