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 "Charlie Bethel never met an epic he didn't like. A
couple years ago, he was telling audiences the story of
Beowulf, and this year, he takes to the stage to unspool
the yarn of an ancient and brave king, his wild-man
friend and their battles with the gods. With no costume
and no props except a couple chairs and a glass of
water, Bethel has only his own formidable story-telling
skills to make the tale come alive in a riveting,
rollicking and accessible staging. The way Bethel tells
it makes you realize anew why this tale has survived the
millennia." - Dominic P. Papatola, St. Paul Pioneer
Press (Sun, Aug. 07, 2005) (Presented by Charlie Bethel
at Illusion Theater; 8:30 p.m Aug. 10 and 11 4 p.m. Aug.
13, 5:30 p.m. Aug. 14).
"Rediscovered a little more than a century ago, the
ancient epic of Gilgamesh alarmed and excited scholars
with its pre-echoes of both Greek and Hebrew myth; here
solo performer Charlie Bethel takes on the story
himself, narrating and embodying the adventures of the
titular god-king, his wild-man sidekick Enkidu, the
Sumerian pantheon, and the citizens of Uruk. Bethel's
storytelling tricks--repetition, varied and comic
voices, deflating asides--are better at spotting the
myth's ridiculousness than building its primal hugeness.
What is missing is an impressive Gilgamesh himself. In
Bethel's rendering, the hero is less specific and
energetic than the gods, divine bulls, demons, and
death-cheating sages he meets. The breezy pace favors
action over Joseph Campbell-ish rumination, and there's
plenty of sex and violence, but the second half's
moments of death, loss, and futility are well-timed and
fully felt. - Geoff Canno, City Pages (August 12, 2005)
(Wed. 8:30 p.m., Thu. 8:30 p.m., Sat. 4:00 p.m., Sun.
5:30 p.m. Illusion Theater)
"Charlie Bethel is a Genius!" Having been mesmerized,
twice, by Charlie Bethel’s brilliant presentation of
“Beowulf,” I was excited to see “Gilgamesh.” Everybody
will need to see this show twice, because there’s so
much material, brilliantly played, that it can’t be
grasped just once. Fortunately, Bethel will repeat the
show this fall at the Bryant-Lake Bowl. “Gilgamesh”
features “language so old” that no one is quite sure how
to pronounce the names of some characters and locations.
The epic story begins in ancient Mesopotamia, where “sex
is important to the gods, because it keeps them fit.”
Bethel has redefined the characters in a modern,
entertaining fashion. He’s become far more animated, and
his style has grown, too, as he plays upward of twenty
characters. World Literature, from the Biblical tale of
Noah, to Homer’s “Odyssey” to the legend of “Rip Van
Winkle” owe so much to the legend of “Gilgamesh,” and
Bethel’s solo work surpasses our expectations. - Steven
LaVigne Living Out and On the Purple Circuit.
http://www.twojew.com/flog/ (5 of 5 Potato Latkes)
for:
Charlie Bethel's GILGAMESH
Boy was that great, just as I thought it would be since
seeing Bewoulf last year. He is every bit as amazing
this year, managing to tell a story that I normally
wouldn't be the least bit interested in and making it
the most fascinating thing that ever happened. I was so
verklempt after the show that I had to shake his hand
just to rub up against all that talent and greatness.
Thankfully Goy David talked me into it, otherwise I
would've chickened out.... As he did with Bewoulf, and
sort of how Amy Salloway did with Herschel Gertz, Bethel
both told and acted out the story, only he wasn't a
character in it, given that it happened thousands of
years ago, around 2100 b.c.e. By "happened" I mean that
the clay tablets, scribbled in Akkadian, a language now
extinct, revealed the earliest versions of the story,
and several versions have been discovered over the years
(bits and pieces of poetry etched into ancient ruins
throughout the Middle East) all in honor of the real
live King Gilgamesh. So who was he? Just a king who
traveled to death country via the underworld in order to
beg that his best friend be released from the dead
because he was only doing what he was supposed to be
doing by resisting sex with Ishtar, goddess of...er...something...fertility,
love, and beauty (who apparently had a duel/dual
nature)!. She didn't like being turned down, though,
being she was such a flirt and all. Anyway, Bethel makes
this heroic tale of good, evil, and unlikely highly
entertaining, with a few modern twists. But hey, I could
watch Bethel perform Three Little Pigs and I'd be
mesmerized. As always, an excellent reminder of the
power of stories and the need to tell them over and over
again. Thanks again, Charlie, oh god of story telling.
Audience reviews from the Minnesota
Fringe Festival showing of Gilgamesh.
"Wow" by Billie Konze: This was my first Charlie Bethel
Fringe Show experience. I wasn't sure what to expect,
except that every review of any of his shows I've ever
read RAVED about them. I have to say he truly, truly
deserves that praise. When a man can wear a short
sleeved plaid shirt, tucked into a pair of jeans, look
entirely midwestern, walk onto a stage bare except for
two chairs and a teensy table with a glass of water, and
OWN that space and hold the audience's attention hostage
for a full hour with a tale of epic proportions, full of
characters with strange names and unfamiliar places and
customs, and make taking a drink of water the greatest
cliffhanger ever...then he truly deserves the glowing
reviews and everyone should go see this show. (Posted on
Aug. 7)
"Great story, great teller" by Dan Pinkerton: Best of
Fringe so far, and that's saying a lot. A brilliant
adaptation that treads a fine line between the formal,
gravitas-laden epic tale and colloquial asides that
liven up the telling and add humor. Charlie's
acting/storytelling style this time is much more
physical than his classic BEOWULF. It's amazing,
breathtaking, thought provoking, funny. (Posted on Aug.
8)
"Terrific!" by Althea Willette:
Terrific!Terrific!Terrific!Terrific!Terrific!Terrific!Terrific!Terrific!Terrific!The
other reviewers are so right on. (Posted on Aug. 7)
"Mind Trip" by Michael Heise: Mr. Bethel has done it
again friends. Yes, the same guy who brought us Beowulf
in 2003 is back with another great performance.
Gilgamesh is wonderfully done – Mr. Bethel pours his
heart and soul into this performance. This guy’s great –
with nothing more than himself, he takes us into another
world. Anyone who’s a fan of one man spoken word
storytelling should see this show. Anyone who has never
seen a one man spoken word storyteller should see
Charlie Bethel – he’ll make you a believer. Who needs
props when you’re Charlie Bethel? This guy can create a
world in our minds with his words – that’s a rare talent
and it is very much appreciated. I hope this guy
continues giving us great performances. Is the Iliad
next? Hope so. (Posted on Aug. 9)
"Old stories for all time" by kit gordon: No one knows
how to tell a story like Charlie Bethel. After seeing
his amazing Beowulf multiple times, this adaptation of
Gilgamesh was at the top of my Fringe list. And it is,
of course, brilliant. One of the oldest stories in the
world, it brings together all the best elements of
narrative with the consumate narrator. Just go! (Posted
on Aug. 7)
"A real triumph" by Delano DuGarm: After Charlie
Bethel's Gilgamesh, I'm ready to go anything this man
puts on. Heck, I'd go to see Charlie Bethel's Weekend up
at the Lake. No props, no scenery, no lighting that I
noticed, but bang! he has you from the first minute with
a sort of story telling verve that completely hides the
gallons of sweat that I'm sure went into the writing and
honing of the story. And it comes with an important
lesson: when you're waiting by the side of the sea of
the dead, leave the snakes and the things made out of
stone alone.
"" by Gary Rogenhauser: So... not gonna lie to ya. This
show is now my favorite show i've seen so far. The most
fascinating quality of the entire 50 minutes though is
that this is the story of Gilgamesh. That's it. Retold
sure in his own words, but it's just straight forward
Gilgamesh. He doesn't pull any gags, any awful pop
culture references, doesn't try to be funny, he just
tells the story. And it's beautiful, funny, engaging and
the best one hour you could spend up here at the
festival. (Posted on Aug. 11)
"Big. No secret." by Susan Thurston Hamerski: As
promised...no one gets out alive. Thank the Gods!
Charlie is channeling a part-god this time. He takes you
into another world, and although he brings you home
safe, you're going to be a whole lot wiser. Absorbing,
transportative, amazing. All we needed was a fire around
which to gather for this genius storyteller. (Posted on
Aug. 11)
"Brilliant" by bogus dood: Charlie Bethel is sheer
genius. His features and body are so mobile that
sometimes you swear he just shapeshifted. The device of
pondering how to translate/relay the story of Gilgamesh
to the audience feels like he's really doing it on the
spot, like someone in your living room. (Posted on Aug.
11)
"3000-year-old adventure" by phillip low: Frickin'
fantastic. What's so impressive about this show is the
fact that he avoids trying to modernize the story with
irony and snide remarks, but instead chooses to play it
straight -- and it's totally engaging. I'm a little
appalled at myself for missing his earlier stuff, and
eager to see what's to come. (Posted on Aug. 11)
"7,000 years and still going strong!" by Mike Lewis: I
have never heard the story of Gilgamesh, but after
seeing Charlie's telling of Beowulf a few years ago,
this was a "must-see" on my list. And I didn't think it
was possible, but this was actually better than Beowulf.
Charlie jumps into the story and tells it at a speedy
pace - and you don't realize how quick you fall into the
story until he takes a sip of water, and you find
yourself screaming in your mind "Get on with it - don't
leave me hanging!" This is easily the best show in the
Fringe. (Posted on Aug. 11)
"Amazing!" by Katie Clapham: This show works. It starts
with a stark stage and an actor who walks on, befuddled
that all these audience members came to hear him tell
the story of Gilgamesh. The tale charges ahead, pulling
us in to experience not only the ancient epic but also a
glimps of Sumeria, with humor, energy and life! See
this! (Posted on Aug. 12)
"Master teller of old tales" by Peter Erickson: As a
storyteller, Charlie Bethel engages you like no one
else. While I felt Gilgamesh did not have the same
nuance of character that his "Beowulf" did, I was still
spellbound the whole trip. What power in this
presentation! (Posted on Aug. 12)
"Another suprising hit" by Dave Mondy: I have zero
interest in the story of Gilgamesh. None. Couldn't care
less. But then again, I thought the same thing about "Beowolf"
(Charlie's last show--which was great), so I took a
chance again. And he did it again, only more so. How
Charlie makes these Lit-class sleep-aids into
electrifying theatre is beyond me, but the 50-some
minutes just flew by. It's really entertaining, AND it
makes you feel smarter. Instead of devoting 2 weeks to
these subjects in college classes, profs should just
bring in Charlie for a day: He could quit his day job,
and the students might actually CARE about this stuff
for a change. (Posted on Aug. 14)
"Mature Artistry" by Marshall Hambro: I missed Charlie
Bethel's "Beowulf" a few years ago. This time I got to
the Illusion early, and was awed by Charlie's skill as a
story-teller and actor. Add to this his appealing
modesty, and you have one of the standout performers of
the Fringe. (Posted on Aug. 13)
"Mesopotamia for Dummies" by Florence Brammer: This was
a GREAT show, distilling a complex tale into a rich but
still accessible script and BEAUTIFULLY performed.
Charlie Bethel is unbelievable in this. What an
embarrassment of riches theatre fans have here in the
Twin Cities!! (Posted on Aug. 14)
"Epic theater" by Reid Gagle: A lustful royal superhero.
His beloved hairy sidekick. A vengeful goddess. Monsters
to slay. Sex. A love that transcends death. Even humor.
All of it comes alive more vividly than in the most f/x
filled movie. And it's all just Charlie Bethel telling a
tale that's been kicking around for thousands of years.
This is what theater is. (Posted on Aug. 15)
"Worth every minute and penny" by Erica Christ: I have
been looking forward to seeing this all week and I
wasn't disappointed. I so enjoyed his Beowulf and
trusted that I would enjoy this one. He is an excellent
storyteller, performer and adapter. I especially
appreciate that while he updates language, he does not
change the story to make it simpler, more palatable or
more sensible--it's not "mythology for dummies." He
allows the story to live as it was, but translated for
our ears. He's a gem. (Posted on Aug. 14)
"" by john wilson: wonderful, charlie is tops (Posted on
Aug. 11)
"Bethel Scores Again!" by Rachel Flynn: I was fortunate
enough to see Bethel's "Beowulf" a couple of years ago
and so when I read that he had a new show this year, I
made sure to see it. I'm so glad I did. This performance
had the same clean, precise, captivating, eloquent,
perfection that I loved in "Beowulf" but with the added
bonus of seeing a bit of Bethel's lighter side, with
some moments of "contemporary" thrown into what is
otherwise a more "old school-ish" style of storytelling.
Make a point to see this one; it's storytelling at it's
best! (Posted on Aug. 12)
"An oldie but a goodie" by August Berkshire: Another
tour-de-force by Charlie Bethel of an ancient classic.
Discover for yourself why this tale has survived the
ages - and see where Genesis got its Flood story. As
engaging as his performance of Beowulf last year.
(Posted on Aug. 7)
"Gilgamesh? Gilga-yes!" by John Middleton: A great show
and a remarkable, masterful performance by Charlie
Bethel. It's a rare and wonderful thing to be able to
put yourself in the hands of an actor like that. I wish
I was smarter so I could say why I found the experience
important as well as entertaining. It has to do with
something very old - about how we learn from one another
and talk to each other. I don't know - I liked it.
(Posted on Aug. 12)
"1/3 Mortal, 2/3 A God" by Jake Endres: What more can I
say? Charlie Bethel is riveting, as always. There is
less material available (at least in a coherent shape)
for this story than for Beowulf--not surprising, as
Gilgamesh is ~7000 years old--but Mr. Bethel makes this
thing live and breathe with a vibrancy not felt for 4500
or so of those years. Great gods, go! (Posted on Aug. 7)
"Dis Ishtar at your own risk!" by Patrick Pfundstein:
One of the oldest tales known is brought vibrantly back
to life in an exercise in pure story telling. Using
little more than two chairs and a glass of water,
Charlie Bethel takes you back to an era when religion
gave far more bang for the buck, the Giant Humbaba still
roamed the earth, and beer was just invented. Be warned
however that stone things may be broken and snakes
handled. Make of that what you will. (Posted on Aug. 6)
"Great Gilgamesh!" by Patti Sanner: I was pleasantly
surprised by the wonderful storytelling abilities of
Charlie Bethel. My friend wanted to see this show, so I
tagged along. I had no prior knowledge of what
"Gilgamesh" was...and as soon as he mentioned mythology
- I thought, "great, another hour wasted." But I must
say, I was completely blown away by Charlie Bethel. A
one man show that covers so much, done while motioning
and moving effortlessly across the stage. His only
pauses were to sip water and re-apply Burts Bee's lip
balm. What a great show and a wonderful storyteller!!!
(Posted on Aug. 11)
"From the Akkadian" by Dave Romm: Bethel is a terrific
storyteller, and it's too bad he only has an hour to
tell this tale. He liberally translates four thousand
year old Akkadian idiom to 21st Century English, making
it clear exactly what went on and to whom and why. You
don't have to know the story for Bethel to make
Gilgamesh come alive. (Posted on Aug. 11)
"Fine Performance" by Dave Larson: Charlie Bethel is a
great storyteller, and he makes the Gilgamesh story come
alive. He's a treat to watch, and his writing of the
story is very good. That said, I did find that my
attention drifted occasionally. (Posted on Aug. 11)
"A Worthy Choice" by Nuke Fool: Charlie Bethel returns
to the Fringe with “Giglamesh”. Similar to his past
Fringe shows, Bethel masterfully weaves the tale of
Giglamesh, King of Uruk, two parts god, one part man.
While Bethel storytelling skills are superior, I found
“Giglamesh” to be somewhat less engaging than his most
recent Fringe contribution, “Beowolf”. Still, if you
like spoken word performances, this show should be high
on your list. (Posted on Aug. 12). |
