Only a seasoned professional would be able to pull off a one-man show as Henry VIII’s court jester. Will Somers: Keeping Your Head was masterfully performed at the Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe by multi-award-winning actor Pierre Brault.
Directed by Al Connors—known for his work with the local A Company of Fools—and written by Brault, this show details the ups and downs and ever-so-scandalous Tudor dynasty of Henry VIII, all six of his wives, and eventually the coronation of Queen Elizabeth I.
From the first scene right until the end, the atmosphere was set, and we were sucked into the world of Will Somers—a lowly English servant who is brought to the court of a young Henry VIII on account of his incredible wit and humour.
Pierre Brault as Will Somers. Photo provided.
Brault performs a litany of characters, all with their own accents I might add, and almost all of whom are real historical figures. I appreciated the attention to historical detail—one of my favourite parts was the addition of Henry VIII’s jousting accident, in which he sustained a serious head and leg injury, which many historians believe to be the reason for this king’s especially nasty and cruel behaviour later in life.
Initially, it was a bit difficult to establish the cast of characters. Just as Brault was settling into his craft for the night, so too was I allowing the flow and pacing of the performance to take shape. It is a different experience entirely when relying on one individual to unravel a compelling story, rather than a whole cast. However, the use of sound effects, music and images really helped to immerse the audience and suspend their disbelief. I thought it was especially interesting that part of the set was a series of moving portraits of various members of the Tudor family.
If you are unsure about attending a one-man show, but have always wanted to see one, this is the one to go to. Funny, well-informed and well-paced, this performance is definitely a must-see.
Will Somers: Keeping Your Head continues at the Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe until March 23. Tickets range from $20–$25 and can be found on their website.
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