Theater review: FCC’s “Grasmere” explores genius and dependence in the lives of the Wordsworth siblings

The dynamic between William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Dorothy Wordsworth was deeply personal, creatively rich, and often fraught with tension. Their relationships shaped not only their lives but also the Romantic Era of English literature. The play “Grasmere,” by Kristina Leach and presented March 28 through April 1 by Fresno City College Theatre, takes a highly fictionalized look at one pivotal year—1802—in the trio’s creative relationship.

Dorothy (Kaci Clason) and William (Nick Sterling) share a deep intellectual and emotional bond, collaborating on William’s poetry and drawing literary inspiration from their surroundings at Grasmere in the Lake District of England. Their routine shifts with the arrival of Coleridge (Alexander Gonzalez), whose struggle with addiction and creative motivation challenges the peace of their home. The situation is further complicated by the arrival of Mary Hutchinson (Lilliana Herrington), a childhood friend of the Wordsworths, who introduces additional emotional complexities in the mix. These developments churn up powerful feelings of oppression, insecurity, and creative jealousy, particularly for Dorothy, whose role as her brother’s creative partner and muse becomes threatened.

A brilliant diarist and writer herself, Dorothy stands at the center of the crisis, and Clasen holds that position with skill. She listens, watches, and resides in Dorothy’s solitude, even when surrounded by others. Sterling and Gonzalez make cracking scene partners, really embracing the sense of camaraderie that comes with close creative collaboration. Sterling is a talented thinker on stage and allows his thoughts to connect to his gestures naturally. Gonzalez embraced the “Romantic-Era-At-Home” style of the time with aplomb. As Hutchinson, Herrington brings a pragmatic and straightforward character that nicely balances the intensity of feeling among the other three. 

Director Janine Christl stages the play with a traditional cottage set by Christina McCollam-Martinez, highlighting oversized daffodils and daisies throughout the interior, paying homage to Wordsworth’s 1802 poem “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,” which features blooming daffodils (and Dorothy’s descriptions) prominently. Costumes by Jeannie Galioto are period-appropriate and support the characterizations well, although I wish the fit were better on Coleridge’s flamboyant attire.

Overall, the show, which will tour several schools this spring, presents the subject well, and the cast is evenly matched in talent, something not often achievable in student productions. As for its historical value, I appreciate the centering of Dorothy’s experience, showing her extreme dependence on her brother for her creative opportunities and that the lack of social opportunities offered to women could lead to tremendous mental and emotional crises. Dorothy Wordsworth, a genius in her own right, supported a man who not only overshadowed her abilities but also exploited them for his own benefit. “Grasmere” does not present the events in Dove Cottage in 1802 accurately, but it does speculate beautifully on the tragic outcomes that befall women too dependent upon (even well-intended) men for their fulfillment.