The Perry Street Theatre in Greenwich Village hosts its last play with the brilliant performance of Treason, a story about the famous and sometimes infamous American poet Ezra Pound written by Sallie Bingham and directed Martin Platt.
Through Bingham's stellar writing and Platt's intelligent directing, audiences are privy to an inside glimpse of a poet who, for the most part is a lesser-known talent to the general public.Throughout the play, Ezra quotes many of America's influential poets like Robert Frost and T.S. Elliot and claims to have played an integral part in developing their skills to become the masters they are considered today.The audience soon learns that although Ezra is happy to toss around names of great American poets and concentrate on the finer things in life like music and wine, he also torments himself with the constant examination of his own artistic work concluding that it is a failure. The self-inflicted criticism over his work consumes his life as Ezra consistently looks for ways to improve.However, as he hopelessly searches for his fingers to create a spark, the mental torment spills over to the various women involved in his life.Ezra, a commanding character yet at the same time a very free spirit, leads an unconventional life with a wife and a mistress who all somehow managed to live under the same roof during a period of time.Ezra's wife Dorothy (Jennifer Sternberg) and his mistress Olga (Niccole Orth Pallavicini) both compromise their own feelings for the sake of Ezra and his artistic talent.Independent of each other, they both stoically remain by his side during the ups and downs in his life, including his decade plus stay at St. Elizabeth's hospital for the mentally insane.
The pace of Treason flows well to cleverly reveal various aspects of Ezra's life and the people of who play prominent roles in it.Treason opens with Ezra in the middle of one of his infamous Rome Radio Broadcasts, which ultimately leads to his arrest in 1945 for treason by partisans where he is handed over to US Military Authorities.Although his arrest for treason ultimately leads to his decline, it also let's the audience better understand the timeline of his work and where exactly his priorities lie.For example, while Ezra is incarcerated in Pisa for treason, he writes the Pisan Cantos, which later won the Bolliingen Prize.Witnessing Ezra during his youthful career also unveils his prejudices and refusal to change his stubborn ways in both his professional and personal opinions.Without thought, he easily insults hospital staff at St. Elizabeth's for their opinions, ethnic and/or religious backgrounds.He acts miserable at his situation when this particular attitude works best for him, but on the contrary vows not to leave the hospital.At times he views St. Elizabeth's as a dream come true because the facility provides him with three meals a day and the peace and quite to continue with his work. Ezra barely gives second thought to being declared insane and deemed unfit for trial for these very reasons.He even let's his high powered friends like Frost and Elliot make it their crusade to get Ezra out of the hospital and back into society for the sake of his talent.However, Ezra seems to prefer the situation and again caves into his stubborn ways.He sees the benefits that this incarcerated lifestyle can provide while not giving second thought to his family and friends who are affected very differently by the same situation.
The decline of Ezra is clearly noted throughout the play.Through the dialogue and excellent acting from the entire ensemble, Ezra's torment is seen spinning out of control.Phillip Pleasants who easily masters the challenging role of Ezra Pound never allows himself the chance to change his ways.He continually disappoints both Dorothy and Olga by drawing them in close enough to learn that he doesn't ultimately care enough about them.While the overall tone of the play is not essentially happy, it brilliantly portrays the psyche of the tortured artist.Twenty years of Ezra Pound's life are covered in Treason exposing the audience to the man behind the genius through the eyes of the women who loved him despite his stubborn ways.Ezra at one point is quoted as saying "A female is a chaos," an apt reflection of his overarching opinion on women.
While Ezra Pound may not be reflected in the best light throughout Treason, the play does offer a look into the life of a man who may always have his talents measured by "what could have been" rather than what our culture is left with.Treason puts a dramatic spin on a historical character who is often forgotten in America's rich, but young history.However, through Bingham and Platt as well as the excellent acting of the entire ensemble, Ezra Pound is brought to life in an objective manner.Treason allows people to witness Ezra has he was – something that even Ezra would appreciate.
