For anyone who loves adventure, Pittsburgh Public Theater breathes new life into a classic journey with their production of “The Hobbit,” running at the O’Reilly Theatre in downtown Pittsburgh through Nov. 10.
And yeah, this one’s kind of for the nerds.
Many know the tale of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit,” which follows the timid Bilbo Baggins as he sets off with a group of dwarves to reclaim their home — and the vast treasure therein — from the mighty dragon Smaug. On their way, the group of 12 dwarves, Baggins and — for part of the way — the wizard Gandalf encounter many obstacles and hairy situations that they escape by the skin of their teeth.
In Greg Banks’ innovative adaptation, All of this plays out in the frame of a tabletop game of “Dungeons and Dragons,” in which the characters get very, very deeply involved. Their imaginations bloom into a visual feast onstage — and throughout the theater. This version is full of engaging and fresh ideas to bring the timeless story to a new generation.
The journey begins with the opening strains of Led Zeppelin’s “Ramble On,” a song very much inspired by Tolkien’s work. Throughout the show, the actors sing, shout and narrate their adventure as they battle trolls, elves and the most fearsome foe of all, Smaug.
The entire cast is bursting with boundless energy, and with the exception of Russell Saylor as Bilbo Baggins, they all have to perform multiple roles. But there was a trio of standout performances: Saylor, whose Bilbo is clever, at times reticent and at times fierce; Shammen McCune, who is commanding and steady as Gandalf, lending the role all of the whimsy and gravitas it requires; and Ryan Patrick Kearney, who plays Thorin, the leader of the band of elves who goes increasingly off the rails as Act Two progresses. These actors form the three-sided die that keeps this production rolling.
As magical as the cast and plot of “The Hobbit” may be, the production design is what makes it something truly special. Scenic design by Jennifer Zeyl transforms a single set into a wide variety of fantasy locales, from forests to prisons to the inside of a massive mountain. Lighting design by Robert J. Aguilar dazzled, working in tandem with the set to paint pictures of bloodred battlefields, dim, green woods and Smaug’s terrifying lair, all bookended by the cozy warmth of Bilbo’s cottage.
Truly the most impressive aspects of the production were the sound design and the puppets. Zach Moore used music, thunder, booming voiceovers and a variety of sound effects to fill the theater space with a pitch-perfect atmosphere. The puppets took everything to a whole other level — designed by Jamie Agnello and Matt Acheson, they used a range of materials to bring monsters and characters onto the stage that you’d think practical effects just couldn’t make real.
Marya Sea Kaminski pulled the whole thing together with such inventive direction, using balconies, perfectly-crafted props and excellent pacing in the two-hour 10-minute production. This show will be especially magical for kids, but all ages can enjoy a brief trip to such a well-hewn world of magic, mayhem, dragons, elves, friendships and courage.
Pittsburgh Public Theater’s “The Hobbit” will run through Nov. 10 at the O’Reilly Theatre in downtown Pittsburgh. To get tickets, visit ppt.org.