‘Emperor of the Moon’ is an al fresco romp in the Springs

Off-the-wall Theatreworks production of a 1687 play is an unexpected delight

Brace yourself for a frisky romp with Emperor of the Moon playing at the Ent Center at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs through Aug. 4. Clever staging, lyrical characters and outrageous costumes make this quirky ride from Theatreworks a bit disjointed — but maybe that’s part of the fun!

In its final show of the 2023/24 season, Theatreworks boldly soars into the stratosphere with this one: a commedia dell’arte-inspired fantastical farce. Written by Aphra Behn in 1687 — yes, more than three centuries ago — it is a bizarre but intriguing tale that mocks the early science of the time.

Set in Naples, astronomer Dr. Baliardo (Michael Augenstein) is an eccentric scientist laser-focused on the moon, which he believes to be inhabited and is intent to spy on its king with his telescope. His end-goal: space travel to unlock the secrets of a utopian moon world where his family can become lunar royalty. In his obsession, the good doctor is blinded to the earthly concerns of his impressionable daughter Elaria, and his plucky niece, Bellamante, who are enthralled with noblemen of questionable character.

Augenstein is a standout as he embodies the mad professor, strutting the stage while wrangling his enormous (Styrofoam) telescope. Retired from everything but theatre, as shared in the Playbill, Augenstein is a mainstay on local stages, and for good reason.

Dante’ Finley (Elaria) and Sierra Miguela Tune (Bellamante) are spirited cousins who corner the market on flamboyance. Their antics amuse and their lines are many — and often hard to fully decipher except for aficionados of commedia dell’arte. (I’d recommends a read of the playbill’s cheat sheet to fully appreciate this unique theatrical genre.)

Photo: Isaiah Downing

Colorful servants who function as impish instigators and two would-be lovers round out the cast in this absurd story. The suitors, Don Cinthio (Will Choy Edelson) and Don Charmante (Christian Ray Robinson) are strutting peacocks who devise a plot to trick the moon-mad scientist. Both bring amazing energy, vibrance and physicality to their roles.

A cadre of oddball servants stir up the plotline with bonus antics as farcical competitors for the audience’s attention. Familiar faces Sammie Joe Kinnett as Scaramouche and Emma Maxfield as Harlequin shine through interplay and their interpretive vignettes. They may be working off-script at times with scenes that are delightfully witty in a peculiar way.

Act One sets the stage for an over-the-top conclusion that may leave patrons to wonder who was on what when they wrote this?

On a midsummer’s night, opening weekend featured performances under the stars in the lawn of the Ent Center for the Performing Arts. (At the performance I attended, however, minutes into the show wind and rain made an unwelcome cameo. It was a hasty retreat to indoor digs where the crew worked a quick set shift with minimal interruption.)

Emperor of the Moon seems a heavy lift but a worthy challenge: too much renders this classic into a sophomoric joke; too little dumbs-down what must be appreciated for its historical value in theatrical arts. Hats off to Director Kathryn Walsh. Theatreworks mostly maintained the delicate balance of this once-in-a-blue moon production. Don’t miss it.