Late to the ‘Borgia’ party and its star Ryder
“Things have reached a pretty pass, when someone pretty lowerclass/Graceless and vulgar, uninspired/Can be accepted and admired.”
So go the Tim Rice lyrics in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Evita.” (From the song “Peron’s Latest Flame.”)
WE WANT to think pretty thoughts today, so we might as well yak about our “latest flame.” His name is Mark Ryder and we just discovered him over the weekend on Netflix in a TV series that ran three seasons, somewhere. It was titled “Borgia” and is not to be confused with “The Borgias,” which aired on Showtime and starred Jeremy Irons as Rodrigo Borgia aka Pope Alexander VI.
I enjoyed “The Borgias,” although interest had ebbed by season three. “Borgia” worked in reverse. I wasn’t too sure about season one, mostly because of the gruff, unmistakably American accent of John Doman (Rodrigo/Alexander), but he is an excellent actor and grew on me. Seasons two and three had me enthralled.
Both series cover pretty much the same blooddrenched, conspiratorial history with the usual inaccuracies/embellishments/imaginings of the genre. (However, the two series correctly interpret Lucrezia Borgia as a more or less innocent pawn of her family, not the evil prisoner of legend. Isolda Dychauk is exquisite as the Netflix Lucrezia, looking like she literally stepped out of a 13th- century painting.)
But the focus of “Borgia” is Mr. Ryder as Cesare Borgia. What a performance; what a character arc — love him, hate him, love to hate him, really hate him! Sadistic, sensitive, sensitively sadistic, sane, crazy, humble and egomaniacal. Also, he’s smoking hot and not shy about showing off most of what the Good Lord gave him. He doesn’t seem to have worked much since “Borgia” ended two years ago. Come back to the big or small screen, Mark Ryder, Mark Ryder. In times like these we need distraction.
A word of warning: “Borgia” is awash in sex, nudity and wildly grisly violence; the latter very much true to that brutal age. I won’t insult you by saying it’s not gratuitous. Of course it is. But if you don’t mind the occasional, uh, gratuity “Borgia” is terrifically entertaining.
The St. Clair Bayfield Award, which the Actors’ Equity Association bestows for the best nonfeatured Shakespearean performance, went this year to Louis Cancelmi, who, on four days’ notice, jumped in and replaced a sidelined Achilles (David Harbour) in “Troilus and Cressida.” The prize was presented by his fatherin-law, an ex-Hamlet/ Prospero/Lear/Benedick/ Polonius/Assistant D.A. named Sam Waterston.
More: Mr. Cancelmi is now, officially, a Somebody in “Everybody.” This is Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ new offering at the Signature Public Theatre through March 12. The role of “Everybody” will be played by a different actor at each performance — it’s some sort of a chance lottery deal every night, against four other actors. Sounds fascinating and scary!
But wait, there’s even more! (Not about Mr. Cancelmi, we’ve had the best of him.) Some movie-goers out there are possibly thinking they vaguely recognize the name St. Clair Bayfield.
Well, he was one of the AEA founding fathers. He was also a New Zealand sheep rancher, which goes to show what can happen in life. And, he was a small-time touring actor. His greatest performance? Convincing his wealthy lifelong paramour, Florence Foster Jenkins, that her operatic screechings were music to his ears; even fit to be appreciated at Carnegie Hall. Mr. Bayfield is wonderfully and movingly played by Hugh Grant in the current film, “Florence Foster Jenkins” opposite Meryl Streep as the vocally deficient but admirably persistent Florence.
Thanks to our old friend, theater arbiter/ observer/writer Harry Haun for the above info. Harry now does his magic for Playbill. Heloise
Dear Readers: Today’s Sound Off is about internet sites wanting your email address. Rene wrote: “The internet is my go-to source for information. Many sites want me to enter my email before continuing when I’m only looking for some quick information. I did it once, and was I sorry! The number of emails I received in a day was huge. I started receiving bimonthly brochures, too.” — Rene J., via email
Rene, I hear you, I hear you, I hear you, and the majority of my readers do, too! Here’s a hint from Heloise: Get a free email account, and DON’T use your full real name. Use