Kral outdoes himself with ‘Samurai’

Local playwright Brian Kral is gifting the Rainbow Company with "The Samurai and the Shadow Princess" -- a tale, based on a Japanese chamber play, about the limits of power.

Brave feudal Japanese warrior Moritoh (Johanzen Palomata) spends his days committing heroic acts during a 12th-century rebellion to usurp the emperor (Jose Anthony). But he finds his skills in battle totally worthless when it comes to wooing a beautiful lady-in-waiting (Chelsee Bergen).

The power of Kral's approach is that it allows us to root for Moritoh, even though some would say he is the villain. He seems, at first, like a good guy, and we naturally want him to get the girl, even though she's promised to someone else.

The story takes an unexpected turn when we find that that someone else is a good guy, too, a captain (Stefan Martin), and the lady-in-waiting has no desire for the warrior. Poor Moritoh learns in a tragic way that force has its limits.

By getting us to like the samurai before we start hating his actions, Kral makes this a story about human shortcomings, rather than good guys vs. bad. He encourages us to reflect on the use we make of force in our own lives.

Kral's direction of the 10-member cast is stately, yet energetically paced. Kral infuses the rumblings with Akira Kurosawa sense of majesty (and on a tiny stage to boot!). Molly Rautenstrauch and Joel Rudd's set -- consisting mostly of red temple support poles, bamboo and a "moon" that feels straight out of Shunichi Kajima's "Paper Lantern -- is well-served by Oliver Kompst's elegant lighting and James Guinn's delightfully detailed costumes.

Structurally, the script could use some tightening. The role of the emperor (played by the authoritative Jose Anthony, who seems to re-invent himself with every role) is an important part of the action, but disappears midway through. The ruler manipulates so much of the plot, that he needs to be a part of the story's climax.

But this adaptation may rank as Kral's best work. The author has had a tendency to go overboard in trying to preach moral lessons. Here, his themes spring from the story. They're a part of, rather than in addition to, the action.

Anthony Del Valle can be reached at DelValle@aol.com. You can write him c/o Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125.