Reviewed by Tony Annicone
The second show of GAMM Theatre’s 35th season is the New England premiere of “JQA” by Aaron Posner. “JQA” tells the story about the sixth president of the United States, John Quincy Adams. It unfolds in nine separate scenes and although it is the history of the man, Posner makes it applicable to current events. And it is a brilliant and excellently written play. Riveting and electrifying, the play shows great depth and emotion and isn’t dry as dust as one would expect from historical plays. It also has some famous people who knew JQA in each of the scenes including his father, John Adams, President George Washington, his British born wife, Louisa, his mother, Abigail Adams, his Secretary of State Henry Clay, his successor, Andrew Jackson, abolitionist Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Director Tony Estrella casts this show with four strong performers to play multiple roles including each of them playing JQA himself. The adage “Do good and be good is required of every man in power” is told to JQA by his mother on her deathbed. And that is the lesson that needed to be learned back in the 1800’s as it needs to be learned now. Honor and dignity are what leaders of nations need back then and especially nowadays, too.
Estrella elicits splendid performances from his cast as they transform themselves into each character they portray. It sometimes occurs with just a costume change and they make the transitions seamlessly. The show opens with Helena Tafuri as 9 year old JQA called into his father’s study to learn about government and in the next scene 27 year old John meets President Washington to become the Minister to the Netherlands. Her portrayal as the youthful John Quincy is spot on. Helena also does a splendid job as the foreign born wife who tells him their children will not be taken care of by his austere and strict seemingly unloving parents. She also does a splendid turn as the youthful Abe Lincoln when he meets the elderly JQA and is told to pay attention to important matters in government and being told his mother’s adage to him years before.
Jonathan Higginbotham takes over JQA for the next three scenes with Louisa, with his dying mother and with Henry Clay who tells him that he must compromise with his opponents or nothing will be accomplished. He portrays the troubled youngish man struggling with how to juggle matters on the homefront with his wife and then his mother and being involved on the political scene. In the Henry Clay scene, JQA is bullied about and told to compromise to get things done. However in the next scene Jonathan becomes Andrew Jackson who runs roughshod over his defeated opponent and declares “Slavery is as normal as Apple Pie.” Jackson spouts outlandish proclamations as this larger than life egotistical General who became president. Sound familiar?
Normand Beauregard takes over as JQA who confronts his successor Andrew Jackson who had cult personality status as the heroic General who won the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. The most poignant scene is when Posner describes the grief that John and Louisa felt at the death of their two sons. Normand Beauregard and Candice Brown portray mother and father in this gut-wrenching scene. The lighting by Steve McLellan is spot on during the whole show but is most effective in this scene with low level lighting. It makes the candlelit scene even more touching for the audience. It induces the pathos needed with the duos terrific acting in it. Normand also portrays the strict John Adams in the opening scene and then shows his comic side as the foul mouth, Henry Clay who berates JQA while speaking to and walking into the audience. This emphasizes how relevant this conversation is with current events.
Candice takes over JQA as he is confronted by abolitionist Frederick Douglass played with great fervor by Jonathan. Douglass tries to convince him to take a harder stand against slavery because he has been reading JQA’s dealings in the past. The last scene has the 80 year old JQA meet with the up and coming congressman, Abraham Lincoln in 1847. Candice in this role imparts the wisdom passed down from Abigail to Lincoln. One must do good and be good and that is required of every person in a position of power. Power should not corrupt the person because the welfare and responsibility of the government is of utmost importance. So for a brand new play that resonates with current day audiences while reflecting on and learning about a president from the past, be sure to catch the informative “JQA” at GAMM Theatre before time runs out.
JQA (24 October to 17 November)
GAMM Theatre, 1245 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, RI
1(401)723-4266 or www.gammtheatre.org
