Zastrozzi - Master of Discipline

‘Zastrozzi - Master of Discipline’ was written in 1977, by 30-years old, prolific Canadian playwright, George F. Walker. Inspired by Percy Bysche Shelley’s 1810 swashbuckling adventure novel ‘Zastrozzi’.

Zastrozzi’ is the latest production from the Melville Theatre, Corner Stock Road and Canning Highway in Palmyra. The play runs until Saturday 12^th March, with performances starting at 8.00 pm.

          The play is set in Italy in 1893. The German Zastrozzi (Jeff Watkins) is an amoral, but highly charismatic, master criminal. He is a skilled combatant with a sword and a self-proclaimed atheist.

         The lights pick out Bernardo (Matt Lister), Zastrozzi’s servant, who tells us that his master is out for revenge. Zastrozzi’s mother, Olivia, was seduced at the age of fifteen, the result being an illegitimate son, Zastrozzi. Olivia, destitute and deserted, demanded with her dying words that Zastrozzi avenges her attacker.

         Zastrozzi, with the help of his callous, but simple-minded protégé Bernardo, unremittingly pursues retribution against God’s ‘messenger on earth’ the mocked, capricious, naïve and troubled artist Verezzi (Steven Hounsome).

        Zastrozzi is an occasionally lover to the ‘greatest seductress of Europe’ Matilda (Laila Gampfer), but when he comes across the beautiful and virginal Julia (Clara Helms) whilst walking in the woods he feels a challenge – her deflowering was an exceptionally funny scene. 

      Together, Bernardo and Zastrozzi chase the foppish Verezzi to a small village in the Italian countryside, planning an intricate scheme to destroy his mother’s adversary. However, for years, Verezzi has constantly been one jump ahead thanks to his cleric tutor, Victor (Jeff Hansen). Victor becoming Zastrozzi’s major challenge. Will Zastrozzi succeed?

Over recent years Melville Theatre’s reputation has sadly been in decline. The quality of the acting and direction was often bland, and some of the plays even plain boring. I am very pleased to say that here we have the organisation reinvigorated. Over recent years Melville Theatre’s reputation has sadly been in decline. The quality of the acting and direction was often bland, and some of the plays even plain boring. I am very pleased to say that here we have the organisation reinvigorated.

This play is very well directed by the young and effervescent virgin-director Kirilee Lennerts. This play, which is all about morals and ethics, is in effect Errol Flynn meets ‘Dangerous Liaison’ with a lot of ‘Blackadder’ humour thrown in. There is nothing worse than a director deciding to put on an audacious play, and then having them lose their nerve and pulling back on the direction and action. Here the superb cast have gone full tilt with the play’s challenging theme and they have succeeded beautifully as a result. The very strong cast depicting the full depth of the characters, wonderful. One wonders at the end was Zastrozzi really what he said or was he just a ‘marvel in his own mind’?

The play was sexy, but certainly not embarrassing to even the more straight-laced members of the audience. The full frontal male nudity was brief, totally inoffensive and very funny.

The scene changes by Rebecca Alosi and Emma Coyne were highly efficient and carried out in a few seconds. Kirilee had the play set on several levels which kept up the interest and pace of action. A realistic castle set, well lit by Ian Black. The sound by Jodie Hansen and costumes by Lorna Mackie were both above average.

The sword fights were action-filled, complex and convincing (Circle of Sword), well done.

Congratulations to director Kirilee Lennerts and all of her cast for having the courage to put on this play.