Written by orange• December 8, 2025• 8:25 pm• Irvine, Review, Theater, UCI, Uncategorized

World Premiere UCI Drama Presents: The Green Knight @ UCI – Review

Written by Zach Johnston

UCI Claire Trevor School of the Arts is decking the halls this season with The Green Knight, a medieval tale of chivalry, sorcery, and beheading.

In an effort to prove his worthiness, King Arthur’s nephew Sir Gawain accepts a challenge brought on by a mysterious axe-wielding green figure during the court’s Christmas festivities. Determined to uphold his end of the wager, Gawain sets out on a twisted journey in which his sense of will and integrity is put to the test.

Based on translations by Simon Armitage, this stage adaptation by Annie Loui seems to examine the gender roles of these 15th century literary archetypes, and how it affects the ways they establish and maintain trust. The clearest evidence of this is in the casting choices.

Esther Pielstick takes on the role of Gawain, the gallant young knight, acting with honorable intention when faced with conflicting motivations. Pielstick is able to find nuances in the medieval protagonist with her unique rendition of the character.

Acting

The acting in the production overall seems to occasionally shift in tone with seemingly uncharacteristic moments of levity and humor. It’s initially hard to digest, but ultimately, the performance strikes a balance between the evident humor in an otherwise dramatic narrative.

Serving as the show’s narrator and playing Arthur is Heriberto Cruz Jr., whose bold stage presence is captivating. Kurt Kanazawa is delightfully entertaining as Lord Bertilak and equally as animated when appearing as The Green Knight.

This production finds several simple and effective ways to bring the hero’s epic journey onto the stage. Cleverly choreographed sequences illustrate Gawain’s push through harsh terrain, or Lord Bertilak’s hunt for wild boar and foxes.

Design

While the execution of the sound design seemed under-rehearsed, the ethereal sounds create dramatic shifts in tone and certainly add to the overall suspense. Ben Scheff’s original compositions in the production are beautiful and haunting.

The projection design makes use of distinct patterns and imagery, with subtle movements to animate certain action sequences. It works in tandem with the ominous lighting to create a stunning, dramatic effect against a curtain backdrop that doubles as a functional part of the set.

The costuming is bold and timely. However, the dramatic introduction of The Green Knight is made less impactful by the bulky top design. Creating some awkward proportions and inhibiting the performer’s movements. Optics aside, the functionality of the costume is an impressive work of stagecraft. That leads to one of the most memorable moments of the night.