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Kathryn Meisle as Irena and David Strathairn as Vilem Rieger in U.S. premiere of Vaclav Havel’s Leaving, directed by Jiri Zizka at The Wilma Theater

The quirky and colorful travails of a deposed chancellor and his grappling with a new administration and rumors of infidelity landed with a wallop on the stage of the Wilma Theater Wednesday night. The political tragicomedy, written by former Czech President and revolutionary Vaclav Havel, uses a captivating and often self-deprecating voice to imbue the play with perspective from the playwright — concerns on choices of character entrance, dialogue and setting.

The Avenue of the Arts production stars David Strathairn, who earned an Academy Award nomination for his leading role in the 2005 film Good Night and Good Luck directed by George Clooney. Strathairn plays former Chancellor Vilem Rieger who is managing his eccentric family while he transitions out of office.

Havel, who hasn’t penned a play in 20 years, came from Prague to see this premiere, having already consulted on the production’s development, and was joined by a host of contacts and friends, including former U.S. Secretary of State Albright, whose appearance was downplayed, save for a bevvy of cameras at the post-show reception.

The cast of the U.S. premiere of Vaclav Havel’s Leaving, directed by Jiri Zizka at The Wilma Theater

Wilma scoring a premiere of this weight speaks to the lobbying from the South Broad Street mainstay and the maturity of the Philadelphia theatre community. It doesn’t hurt that noted director Jiri Zizka is himself a Czech native who lived through its Communist regime and has called Philly home for decades. Beyond even Strathhairn, the cast is a fine team.

Victoria Frings plays Chancellor Rieger’s demanding, doting and faithful companion Zuzana, and the Chancellor’s sexy and sultry graduate student admirer is fit snugly by Mary McCool. Other cast highlights include Trevor Long playing a sleek version of the cooly, vengeful technocrat Patrick Klein and Geddeth Smith winning laughs as an old and tired, if sometimes incompetent, butler. All told, the cast of 15 enters more than a half dozen doors and battles reporters, rain, a new administration and a King Lear-inspired scene or two.

Leaving
May 26th – June 20th, 2010

Wilma Theater
265 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 546-7824
www.wilmatheater.org