Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code has been adapted for the stage by Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel. This Canadian premiere is produced by Vertigo Theatre and it is an epic production. The story spans multiple famous locations in Europe, a real challenge when putting this narrative on stage. But with a talented cast, a complicated and thoughtful set design and smart direction, this performance is a dynamic and thrilling ride.
The story tells of Professor Robert Langdon (Graham Percy) who is dragged into an investigation of the murder of a museum curator in the Louvre. Cryptologist Sophie Neveu (Isabelle Pedersen) tries to rescue Robert, as he’s actually a suspect in the investigation led by Bezu Fache (Christopher Clare) and supported by Collet (Stephanie Bessala). Robert and Sophie wind up trying to crack riddles and codes to solve the mystery of the Holy Grail. Along with help from Sir Leigh Teabing (Duval Lang) and his butler Remy (Matthew McKinney), the duo try and crack all the riddles to get to the answers. They are chased by a variety of people including Silas (Mike Tan). The story flashes back to Sophie’s childhood featuring her grandfather Jacques Sauniere (Joel Cochrane). The talented Valerie Planche plays various characters in the story, rounding it out.
Director Simon Mallett and assistant director Katelyn Morishita have considered how to tell the story without it being too complicated and without using technology to make it unnecessarily flashy. Anton deGroot’s set design switches and flips to create scenes at the Louvre, Westminster Abbey and Rosslyn Chapel. The projection design by Andy Moro and costume design by John Iglesias are innovative and creative, so the audience never questions where the scene takes place.
The character that grounds the story in its grandeur is Langdon, and Percy’s portrayal is filled with warmth and charm. Percy makes Langdon relatable, innocent and vulnerable, and his performance is highly engaging. Pedersen is a good partner to Percy, and handles the depth of Neveu’s character easily. Lang as Teabing is a pleasure to watch. It’s an opportunity for Lang to be conniving and deceptive and he does it well. Tan is Silas fully and famously.
The Da Vinci Code is an epic story made to fit on a stage. This cast, along with clever theatrical design, creates a successful epic production.
Vertigo Theatre’s production of The Da Vinci Code runs until June 8th. More information is available online.
Photo: Isabella Pedersen, Graham Percy, Duval Lang, Set Design by Anton DeGroot, Costume Design by John Iglesias, Lighting Design by Jessie Paynter, Projection Design by Andy Moro, Sound Design & Composition by Darren Young. Photo by Fifth Wall Media.