By Tina Arth and Darrell Baker
J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic tales of Middle Earth can be writ
as large as Peter Jackson’s expansive film series or as small as a cozy
fireside tale from the Shire. Theatre in the Grove’s current production of The Hobbit works precisely because it
falls so firmly into the latter camp.
Patricia Gray’s adaptation of Tolkien’s original work
manages to capture the key plot points within the confines of an action-packed
single act. The things we remember most from the novel (Bilbo and his
hobbit-hole, Gandalf, Thorin Oakenshield
and his hardy band, the trolls, the goblins, the wood elves, Smaug the
Dragon, and of course the unforgettable Gollum) are all represented in a
condensed but coherent and accessible narrative.
Forest Grove high school student Adam Borrego was last seen
at TITG as the Fiddler in Fiddler on the
Roof. In The Hobbit, Borrego does
dual duty, giving one of the evening’s best performances as Dwarf King Thorin
Oakenshield and serving as the show’s director. Borrego’s maturity as an actor
is matched by the leadership he provides his mostly youthful and exuberant
cast, and his director’s note makes it clear that he took a thoughtful and
deliberate approach to presenting the material.
Gray’s version of The
Hobbit is dominated by four key players: Bilbo, Gandalf, Gollum, and
Oakenshield. Despite his hairless toes, Malachi
Skjeie was an inspired choice for the diminutive and reluctant hero, Bilbo
Baggins. Skjeie deftly captures the duality of Bilbo’s nature – drawn to hearth
and home like a good Baggins, yet ultimately unable to resist Gandalf’s promise
of adventure (a reckless vice he inherited from his mother’s side of the
family). Mark Putnam is suitably elusive
as the wizard Gandalf, and despite his voluminous beard he manages to deliver
his lines with magisterial clarity. And then there’s Noah
Burgess as Gollum – slithering up
from the dark recesses of TITG’s dank cellar, contorting himself with sinuous
grace, and hissing his character’s whiny dialogue with sinister sibilance.
The ensemble is populated primarily by young actors, many of
them perhaps getting their first taste of live theater (as director Borrego did
in his 2007 stage debut). They are uniformly enthusiastic, but the chaos is
controlled – one of best moments in the play is the scene where all eleven
dwarves cheerfully lay waste to Baggins’ tidy hobbit hole. Some of show’s charm
comes from its youngest players – the Forest Elves and Attendant Goblins –
whose presence subtly reminds the audience that this is, in fact, a fairy tale.
TITG’s telling of The
Hobbit is enhanced by simple, but effective and cleverly designed sets that
suggest Tolkien’s Middle Earth while allowing for quick scene changes. The
lighting and sound design complement the sets, enhancing the story by bringing an
atmosphere of fantasy and creating magic, when magic is needed.
While The Hobbit
is in many respects a regular TITG production, it has the added distinction of
being part of the company’s annual Schools program, designed to bring drama and
its literary adjuncts to local students. In addition to the regular run,
several daytime, midweek performances are offered especially for area schools,
and hundreds of young people get a taste of theater through this medium.
The Hobbit is
playing at Theatre in the Grove, 2028 Pacific Avenue, Forest Grove., with
regular performances at 7:30 on January 24th , 25th and a Sunday matinee on January 26th.
