by Tattle Tales
You only need to know one thing about OpenStage Theatre’s production of “Unnecessary Farce”: You will laugh until your sides hurt.
Coming off the high of Midtown Arts Center’s “Sweeney Todd” and an excellent Fort Collins Symphony performance, I was hoping the law of threes would hold true and dang if it didn’t. OpenStage has put together a sidesplitting production of playwright Paul Slade Smith’s door-slamming farce.
You only need to know one thing about OpenStage Theatre’s production of “Unnecessary Farce”: You will laugh until your sides hurt.
Coming off the high of Midtown Arts Center’s “Sweeney Todd” and an excellent Fort Collins Symphony performance, I was hoping the law of threes would hold true and dang if it didn’t. OpenStage has put together a sidesplitting production of playwright Paul Slade Smith’s door-slamming farce.
Director Judith Allen has become the company’s go-to-gal for comedic
divinity. From Dan Tshirhart’s hilarious entry as police officer Eric
Sheridan to a giggle-inducing chase scene between adjoining motel rooms,
Allen keeps the laughs coming at a rapid pace.
As with most farces, the plot is simple. Set in two economy motel rooms divided by an imaginary wall, the action includes befuddled detectives, a corrupt mayor and clothes that refuse to stay on the actors’ bodies. Add to the mix a botched sting operation, a Scottish mafia headed by the “Big Mac,” deadly bagpipes from hit-man Todd (a plaid-clad David Austin-Groen) and a video camera catching all the action and you’ve got a fabulous way to spend two hours.
Allen’s casting draws heavily from the Comedy Brewers improv group, including Tshirhart, Austin-Groen, Jessica MacMaster as police officer Billie Dwyer, and Jessica Emerling Crow as accountant Karen Brown. Toss in Don Kraus as corrupt Mayor Meekly, Louise F. Thornton as his wife, Kirby Anderson as town hall security chief Frank — along with tons of clever word play — and you’ve got one divine comedy.
Ultimately, however, it’s the softer moments that truly kill, such as the Highland hitman’s ring tone and total devotion to plaid. (This is the same plaid I was sadly forced to wear throughout Catholic grade school. Yuck!)
Perhaps the biggest surprises were Kraus’s turn as a deviant mayor who makes the most of his brief lines and Thornton’s subtle performance as the mayor’s meek wife with a dark secret.
Credit is also due to Set Designer Dennis Madigan and Master Carpenter Michael Gorgan. Their doors slam and open smoothly: No difficult feat considering the flats are built in a distant warehouse then transferred to the Lincoln Center Magnolia Theatre stage shortly before opening night.
“Unnecessary Farce” runs through March 14, with a pay-what-you-can performance tonight, Feb. 19, and FAB Friday’s beer night on Feb. 20.
For more information, visit OpenStage.com. Purchase tickets via LCTix.com or by calling 970.221.6730.
Listen to Tattle Tales on occasional Friday's at 9 am on KRFC 88.9 FM. Send press release emails to KateForgach@hotmail.com.
As with most farces, the plot is simple. Set in two economy motel rooms divided by an imaginary wall, the action includes befuddled detectives, a corrupt mayor and clothes that refuse to stay on the actors’ bodies. Add to the mix a botched sting operation, a Scottish mafia headed by the “Big Mac,” deadly bagpipes from hit-man Todd (a plaid-clad David Austin-Groen) and a video camera catching all the action and you’ve got a fabulous way to spend two hours.
Allen’s casting draws heavily from the Comedy Brewers improv group, including Tshirhart, Austin-Groen, Jessica MacMaster as police officer Billie Dwyer, and Jessica Emerling Crow as accountant Karen Brown. Toss in Don Kraus as corrupt Mayor Meekly, Louise F. Thornton as his wife, Kirby Anderson as town hall security chief Frank — along with tons of clever word play — and you’ve got one divine comedy.
Ultimately, however, it’s the softer moments that truly kill, such as the Highland hitman’s ring tone and total devotion to plaid. (This is the same plaid I was sadly forced to wear throughout Catholic grade school. Yuck!)
Perhaps the biggest surprises were Kraus’s turn as a deviant mayor who makes the most of his brief lines and Thornton’s subtle performance as the mayor’s meek wife with a dark secret.
Credit is also due to Set Designer Dennis Madigan and Master Carpenter Michael Gorgan. Their doors slam and open smoothly: No difficult feat considering the flats are built in a distant warehouse then transferred to the Lincoln Center Magnolia Theatre stage shortly before opening night.
“Unnecessary Farce” runs through March 14, with a pay-what-you-can performance tonight, Feb. 19, and FAB Friday’s beer night on Feb. 20.
For more information, visit OpenStage.com. Purchase tickets via LCTix.com or by calling 970.221.6730.
Listen to Tattle Tales on occasional Friday's at 9 am on KRFC 88.9 FM. Send press release emails to KateForgach@hotmail.com.
Saw this tonight. Really funny! Thanks for the enjoyable evening, Open Stage!
ReplyDeleteHere is what The New Commidia had to say about the show http://thenewcommedia.org/community-engagement-or-the-real-necessity/
ReplyDelete