Welcome back, Bess Bridges. It’s been almost 25 years since the smart, sassy, sword-savvy tavern wench of “The Fair Maid of the West” first charmed audiences with her adventuresome spirit and swashbuckling skills.
When Kevin Theis’ adaptation of Thomas Heywood’s 1590s-set romp, debuted back in 1994, it was the surprise hit of the Off-Loop theater season. Since that storied run at the late, great Theatre Building, the production has entered the mythology of can-do, bootstrap-budget Chicagoland theater. Penned by a (then) unknown actor who raised some $30,000 from scratch, “Fair Maid” ran for five months and garnered eight Joseph Jefferson nominations.
In the years since, Theis’ rollicking adaptation of pirates, shipwrecks, star crossed lovers and hidden fortunes has become a college-stage favorite. But while “The Fair Maid of the West” has been produced by undergrads all over the country, it hasn’t received a professional production in the area since that fabled 1994 run. That changes July 27, when Oak Park Festival Theatre opens “Fair Maid” in the outdoor stage at Austin Gardens.
In Bess Bridges epic quest, Theis adds, you’ll see shades of Dorothy Gale from “The Wizard of Oz.” In her star-crossed romance, there are echoes of countless rom-coms. And in her cadre of fiercely loyal, ride-or-die friends, you’ll find the foundation for equally numerous buddy flicks.
“Seriously,” says Theis, “I think Bess is the most brilliant female protagonist I’ve ever read in my entire life. She inspires people to be the best they can be. That’s what’s so amazing about this character — everyone she comes in contact with is changed for the better.”
Brilliant protagonist or no, nobody thought staging “Fair Maid” was a viable — or even especially sane — idea back in 1994. “I told my wife I wanted to do it,” Theis recalls, “and she told me I was out of my mind. It was too big. There were too many fights. We didn’t have any money.”
Theis persisted, nevertheless, selling shares in the show until he had $30,000 — enough to get the show off the ground. “Not a word has been changed” for the Oak Park Festival staging, Theis says, although he’s tightening up the pace a bit, and honing the epic fights that punctuate the show. The infamous set – where an English pub morphs into a ship right before the audience’s eyes – will return, says Theis. So will the whopping eight major brawls woven into the plot, ranging from a one-on-one pub throwdown to all-hands-on-deck, full-cast riots.
Fight choreographer Kate Booth is charged with making sure the fights look bone-crunchingly authentic without actually crunching anybody’s bones. It’s a task she’s well versed in. Certified as an Advanced Actor Combatant by the American Society of Fight Directors, Booth spent years brawling at the Bristol Renaissance Faire.
“Our group would walk the grounds from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m, and basically break out in a brawl every 15 minutes. I might not be the thinnest or the shiniest person in the room, but my endurance is impressive,” Booth says. “I am used to fighting outside in 90 degree heat while projecting to a crowd.”
As Bess Bridges, actor Amanda Forman is getting a crash course in stage violence, with an emphasis on two-handed rapier and dagger work. The work is tough and exhilarating, she says — in large part because Bess Bridges is not your typical ingenue.
“Usually in this kind of play, the ingenue is kind of helpless — someone who needs rescuing. What I love about Bess is that she can take care of herself,” Forman said. “I feel like now especially is a great time for strong female characters — we’ve got Wonder Woman and Princess Leia. I think Bess is similar in ways to that kind of strong, independent, smart female lead.”
As for Theis, he’s thrilled to be bringing Bess back to life. “Bess inspires people. Everyone she comes in contact with, she changes for the better. She’s not just some girl chasing after a guy. She’s a woman with a rock solid moral compass, who never waivers from doing the right thing.”
‘The Fair Maid of the West’
When: July 27–Sept. 2
Where: Oak Park Festival Theatre, Austin Gardens, 167 Forest Ave., Oak Park
Tickets: $30; $25 seniors, $15 students; free children 11 and younger
Contact: 708-445-4440; www.Oakparkfestival.com
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