Joshua Carroll plays King Matthias II, a manipulative monarch who hides his monetary motivations behind a skein of moral indignation.
Matthias had been written as a cunning and confident manipulator, comfortable in his physical and social (and religious) power. It got some good reactions from other actors, but it was largely a flat and uninteresting charater. Then, one rehearsal, Joshua came in with an outrageously vulnerable King: outraged, worried, and at times teetering on the latest news of his wealthy, distant, and unknowable adversary. Suddenly this giant, the most powerful man in the kingdom, was all show, and fascinating to watch. It’s (almost) always better to watch someone fighting for something, and his performance in the final scene helped create a truly climactic moment.
Joshua, by contrast, is a prettly down-to-earth guy and a joy to work with. He occassionally performs with The Unrehearsed Shakespeare Company, but is also seen in higher-profile theaters like First Folio.
Come see Joshua deliver a sonnet about God in Countess Bathory! Closing weekend is coming up!
COUNTESS BATHORY is back, Thursday – Saturday. Reservations are full, but walkups are welcome. Please contact Jared McDaris (jared@wethreeplays) to be placed on our wait-list.
June 9 – 25
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30pm
4001 N Ravenswood Ave, Ste 405
ALL SEATS ARE FREE