It's a Shatner world after all

Who: William Shatner
What: Shatner’s World: We Just Live in It
Where: The Peabody Opera House, St. Louis
When: April 12, 2012

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Not all one-person shows are created alike. Some are like quality off-the-rack suits that can be worn effectively by anyone of the right physical type; think “Belle of Amherst” or “Barrymore”. Others are like custom-tailored outfits designed for a unique individual; think most cabaret shows. “Shatner’s World: We Just Live in It” is that second type of show.

And, to paraphrase Rod Stewart, he wears it well.

“Shatner’s World” is, in fact, a kind of spoken word cabaret in which the veteran actor weaves stories drawn from his life on and off the stage into an entertaining narrative that not only reveals much of his character but also manages to lay out a kind of philosophy of life: never be afraid to take a chance and always say “yes”. Like all great cabaret shows, it has a logical progression, a dramatic shape, and a satisfying conclusion. Video and audio clips interspersed throughout the show nicely punctuate each section.

The William Shatner that is revealed in “Shatner’s World” is a remarkably charming and wise fellow; the sort of witty raconteur you’d love to have at a dinner party. He’s filled with fascinating stories about his Canadian childhood, his experiences as a young actor at the Stratford (Ont.) Shakespeare Festival, his work on Broadway and live television (including a hilarious story about a disastrous fight scene with Lon Chaney, Jr.), his love of horses, and the ups and downs of his personal life.

In one of many moments of self-mockery, he uses a funny story about his performance in the Broadway flop “The World of Suzie Wong” to explain “why I talk like this”. Heck, he even manages to slip in a quantum physics joke.

I was especially interested to hear how he came to terms with the way his best-known role came to dominate his life. As anyone who has ever seen “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” knows, early success in a popular medium can come to haunt an actor who has greater ambitions. Many artists have spent most of their lives running away from their Greatest Hit. Mr. Shatner tells of how an interview he did with Patrick Stewart, in which the famed actor says that if he died tomorrow he’d be happy to be known as Captain Picard, caused him to have “an epiphany” and understand that he could feel the same way about Captain Kirk.

Towards the end of the evening Mr. Shatner talks about how much he loves the spoken word. That love of language permeates the show. Whether he’s telling old burlesque jokes or relating a moving tale about a champion horse that he loved not wisely but too well, it’s clear that Mr. Shatner loves the well-turned phrase. At just over two hours with no intermission there are, perhaps, a few too many of them in “Shatner’s World”, but given that Mr. Shatner is something of a living library of recent theatre, television, and even recording history, I’d say that’s forgivable.

Finally: as anyone ambitious (or crazy) enough to have done one can attest, a successful one-person show is nearly always a team effort. Team Shatner consists of irector Scott Faris, scenic designer Edward Pierce, lighting designer Ken Billington, and sound designer Peter Fitzgerald. Congratulations to all of them for an entertaining evening.