Strong Performances Get Lost in ‘Shadow’s’ Concocted, Sketchy Script

Austin Pendleton’s “Orson’s Shadow,” at the Old Globe Theatre’s Cassius Carter Centre Stage, offers some entertaining facsimiles of Orson Welles, Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh, Joan Plowright and Kenneth Tynan. On the level of an animated wax museum, the production is fun, but the script is negligible.

Pendleton concocted the idea that critic Tynan organized a 1960 production of Eugene Ionesco’s “Rhinoceros,” starring Olivier and Plowright, directed by Welles. Such a production did actually occur, but Tynan had nothing to do with it, which Pendleton briefly acknowledges. Why he felt compelled to add Tynan to the mix is never satisfactorily explained.

In the first act, Tynan approaches Welles backstage, after a Dublin performance of Welles’ Shakespearean adaptation “Chimes at Midnight.”

Welles initially resists Tynan’s proposal, citing past grievances with Olivier, then suddenly and rather inexplicably changes his mind. Tynan trots to London to persuade Olivier and Plowright, where the meeting is interrupted by an excessively long phone call between Olivier and his half-mad wife, Leigh.

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In the second act, rehearsals fall apart as Welles and Olivier clash and Leigh goes bonkers in a big way. The play leaves the impression that Olivier finally booted Welles off the production, which is contrary to the account given in Welles biographies.

The impersonations are all in the hands of pros. Jonathan Fried has a booming Wellesian voice; Nicholas Hormann has a knack for maneuvering through Olivier’s neurotic speeches; Alexandra Boyd has the brass-tacks quality that’s still apparent in Plowright’s recent performances; and Judith Chapman’s fragile Leigh looks uncannily right.

Adam Stein does as well as can be expected in the awkward role of Tynan, who has to deliver exposition while making fun of those who deliver exposition. Scott Wood is lightly likable as a gofer.

Under the direction of Kyle Donnelly, Pendleton’s script is little more than an overextended comedy sketch, similar to ones done much more economically on late-night TV.

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* “Orson’s Shadow,” Old Globe Theatre, Cassius Carter Centre Stage, San Diego. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 2 p.m. Ends Oct. 21. $23-$42. (619) 239-2255. Running time: 2 hours, 25 minutes.