Word: cocteau
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...Eagle Has Two Heads was written in the fall of 1946, in part as a favor for Cocteau's lover and favorite leading man, Jean Marais. Marais asked for a part in which he did not speak in Act One, shed tears of joy in Act Two and fell backwards down stairs in Act Three. But Cocteau also chose to use the play to explore the mysterious drowning of King Ludwig II of Bavaria...
Working under wacky if self-imposed constraints, Cocteau might be expected to create contrived plot. And he does. The Eagle With Two Heads tells the story of a young queen in an unnamed Balkan kingdom who withdraws from the world in response to the assasination of her husband. Seen by no one, she leads a nomadic existence, sleeping in a different castle every night and avoiding all company. On the 10th anniversary of her husband's murder, Stanislas, a young anarchist poet who just happens to be the king's exact double, climbs up to her window to kill...
...Queen's blue-blooded servants, played by Kelly matthews and Tom Chick, function as narrators for Cocteau's brand of Shakespearean prologue; they provide important information at the beginning of each of the first two acts. Although Matthews and Chick allow the opening scene to drag unnecessarily, they become more comfortable with their characters in the middle of the play. Then matthews' prissy, huffy countess and Chick's obsequious, inspid duke become enjoyable to watch...
Hamel's direction is skillful. Aside from occasionally awkward and distracting blocking, his staging is fluid. He trusts the script enough to allow actors to remain still on stage, letting the power of Cocteau's ideas hold our interest. Hamel should also receive the credit for an inspired set design, which beautifully highlights what Cocteau called the "false classicism" of this play set in the 19th century...
...mendacious count in The Eagle Has Two Heads warns Stanislas that "We are not living in a fairy tale." As always, the count is lying. These character are living in a fairy tale, albeit it a twisted one. Just as Lynch perverts the myth pf small-town America, Cocteau turns the myth of European aristocracy on its head. This production is not perfect, but thanks to Benjamin's riveting performance, Hamel's subtle direction and some competent supporting actors, The Eagle Has Two Heads is compelling. And like any fairy tale or David Lynch movie, it is not easily forgotten...