"Quills" Review Part Two: Actors Explore Their "Dark Side"

This two-part review of "Quills" at the Cotuit Center for the Arts comes from guest reviewer Robert Minshall.

The show opens in the office of the Doctor Royer-Collard, the chief physician of the Asylum where de Sade was imprisoned at the end of his life.  Royer-Collard, played by Christopher Cooley, is speaking with Monsieur Priox (Ricky Bourgeois), a celebrated architect.  The show starts slow, with with both actors struggling with their lines and costumes, and looking not quite comfortable in their given roles – issues that do improve as the show progresses. 

The show perks up with the arrival of Renee Pelegie, the wife of the Marquis, expertly performed by Jean Constable Preston. She barges into the Doctor’s office to ensure her husband is not only to remain at the asylum but also to request that his writings not reach the public as her social standing is being greatly affected. Ms. Preston’s ample stage experience is apparent in her depiction of her character, but unfortunately she frequently outshines the other actors around her, throwing the balance off a bit. However, there is a large exception to this in Troy Davis, who is the show’s standout as the Abbe de Coulmier, the Catholic administrator of the asylum. Mr. Davis is not only believable as the young church figure but also portrays an impressive transformation of character throughout the show.  Mr. Davis definitively raises the acting standard of those around him on stage.

The setting then switches to the jail cell which de Sade called his home. We first see a fully and exquisitely dressed Marquis, performed by John Williams, reading pages from his newest work. Mr. Williams’ depiction of his character takes some time for the audience to warm up to, as he struggles with his lines and is not yet believable as the “Monster” de Sade. Part of this is due to overdone makeup which looks more like Heath Ledger as “The Joker” than like the scarred and self mutilated face de Sade created for himself. A considerable shift in Williams’ acting prowess takes place when he fully sheds his wardrobe. It appears that the actor goes to a place in his mind where he can emotionally deal with being nude in front of a full audience and thereby transforms into de Sade.

 Finally, Emily Hamilton, takes on “dual” roles as both the sixteen year old Madeleine LeClerc, a seamstress and admirer of de Sade and also as Madame Royer-Collard, wife of the aforementioned doctor. Miss Hamilton does a fine job as the Doctor’s wife, a woman of “considerable appetites,” but misses the mark as a French teen in 1804. It is apparent that the young actress has the budding of great acting chops but in this context comes off as a modern day American teenager.

Quills will be playing at the Cotuit Center for the Artson Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm through October 23rd. Get your tickets early as the Center has been building their incredible reputation and selling out many of the shows they put up on their main stage.

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