The Connection

Aldersgate Church Community Theater (ACCT) is presenting “The Count of Monte Cristo” from Sept. 28 to Oct. 14. Betrayal, obsession, and redemption provide the backdrop for this Charles Morey adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' novel. While unjustly imprisoned, Edmond Dantes befriends a neighboring inmate who bequeaths him an enormous treasure. Dantes escapes and returns to society disguised as the Count of Monte Cristo with plans to enact his revenge on those who betrayed him. But as Dantes becomes consumed with his quest for vengeance, he finds himself losing his humanity and any hope of reconciling with the love of his life.

Director Eleanore Tapscott said the play is an epic tale of suffering and retribution with themes of hope, justice, vengeance, mercy, forgiveness, and reformation. “At a time when it seems that the selfish and greedy can sow hate, division, and pillage the environment without impunity, we need a tale in which the bad people get their comeuppance,” she said.

“The play is a story about power, the price many pay to obtain power, and the ruthlessness with which that power can be used, certainly providing proof to the saying, absolute power corrupts absolutely. I don’t think the Count is wrong for wanting to exact revenge on those who treated him with such injustice, but there is a danger when the pursuit of revenge becomes so all-consuming,” she said.

She added: “‘Vengeance is a harsh mistress,’ as one of the play's characters reminds us, and such all-encompassing thirst for revenge should not be done at risk of losing one's humanity. I'd like the audience to consider Dumas' own words: ‘romance, revenge, obsession and justice abound. Yet in the end only truth, hope, and love will prevail.’”

Producer Marg Soroos said they like to do classic stories at ACCT. “One of our council members suggested ‘The Count of Monte Cristo.’ It took some time to find a script that was true to the Dumas work and acceptable for our stage. We are thrilled to find the Charles Morey script fit the bill perfectly. This show has not been performed in our area so it will be a new experience for seasoned theater goers,” she said.

She added: “This is a story of death and rebirth, repentance, renewal and transcendence. We would love to have the audience decide for themselves if Dantes ‘killed himself,’ ‘begun his life anew,’ or has been ‘renewed in spirit.’ This is up to each theater-goer to decide for himself. The essential arc of Edmond Dantes’ life goes from revenge to obsession to forgiveness to transcendence is to be clear and compelling. This version should be where theater patrons can talk about the ending as they exit the theater.”

Cal Whitehurst is playing the role of Gerard de Villefort, a prosecuting attorney for the French Royal Government and one of the conspirators who send Edmond Dantes to prison on a false charge of treason. “He sees himself as a moral man who has spent his career serving justice; but he carries within him not only the secret of his unjust imprisonment of Dantes, but an even deeper and darker one as well,” he said.

He added: “One challenge to performing in this production of ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ is acquitting myself gracefully in the dance segments, which serve both to set the play in 19th century France and to illustrate the various characters and their relationships to each other. In addition, the play is an adaptation of a highly melodramatic novel; and de Villefort has some very strong actions and intense emotions, which require me to strike a balance between believability and a dramatic style that is true to the Dumas work.”

Jim Pearson is playing the role of Eugene Danglars, who he calls a ‘nasty piece of work.’ “By turns charming and abusive, he is a bully to those below him and a sycophant to those above,” he said.

He said the challenge was “Finding the arc of the character from small-time embezzler to grand living and plotting has been an emotional journey. Danglars’ relationship with his wife is truly complex as well.”

Timothy Caron is playing the role of Edmond Dantes, an honest, hard-working and somewhat naive man pushed into a horrible situation. “Years later, when he escapes this personal hell, having learned that it all unfolded because of the greed of some selfish acquaintances, he's (understandably) driven to punish them. Under the guise of ‘The Count of Monte Cristo,’ a now wealthy and well-educated Edmond is able to execute grand designs against each of them — but with little restraint on the extremity of his actions,” he said.

Nic Barta is playing the role of Benedetto, a man who has had to survive on his own his whole life. “He never knew his real family and went through life never truly trusting people. When he meets the Count, he’s taken aback by how different he is. When he’s employed by the Count he’s given a direction no matter how small it may be. He gets taste of what higher class life could be and begins to like it. Benedetto is a man lost in the harshness of the world. He’s a very tragic character,” he said.

He said the dance choreography was tricky to get the hang of. “I don’t consider myself a good dancer, so learning the waltz from square one was quite the challenge. I had to learn to relax and be persistent in learning the steps,” he said.

Tameka Taylor plays the role of Hermione Danglers, who is very socially and class conscious. “She's feisty and has had many love affairs. Hermione's marriage to her husband Eugene Danglars is not one of love and respect but one of convenience. She adores her daughter Eugenie and enjoys being the Belle of the ball and the talk of the town, however this ‘talk’ is not always in her favor,” she said.

She added: “Revenge and justice are two very separate things. Revenge is one-sided, motivated anger, self-interest, jealousy … etc. It also can bring about more revenge. It never results in peace, but only conflict of mind, body and soul with all involved.”

Aldersgate Church Community Theater is presenting “The Count of Monte Cristo” from Sept. 28 to Oct. 14. Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12-$15. The venue is located at Aldersgate Church, 1301 Collingwood Road, Alexandria. Visit www.acctonline.org.