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Disclaimer:
The reviewers' opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of TheatreLouisville.org. |
Peer Reviews Leading
Ladies Reviewed by Sherry Deatrick Entire contents are copyright © 2009 Sherry Deatrick. All rights reserved.
Derby Dinner Playhouse scores another big win with its 35th season opener, Leading Ladies, by Ken Ludwig (author of Moon Over Buffalo, Crazy For You, Lend Me A Tenor). The playwright's wit is reminiscent of that of Joe Orton (Loot, What the Butler Saw) with a hefty, but not derivative, helping of Shakespeare to spice things up. I haven't laughed so heartily at a play in a long time. My sides still ache.
The farcical plot is simple — a pair of Shakespearean actors named Leo (Matt Wallace) and Jack (Bill Hanna) are down to their last dollar, on a train to their next whistle-stop engagement. During a diagetic monologue, used effectively and sparingly, we learn that the British actors are relegated to performing Shakespearean snippets at Moose lodges in Pennsylvania. On the train, Leo reads about a wealthy woman on her deathbed seeking her long-lost relatives, Max and Steve. Leo cajoles Jack into pretending to be Florence's nephews and swoop in for the inheritance. Not so fast. Max and Steve are really Maxine and Stephanie, they learn from a college student named Audrey (Janet Essenpreis) who fortuitously roller-skates into their train car. Essenpreis's skating on the raised stage is impressive. Her comic timing as the not-so-dumb "dumb blonde" is just one of the many strong points among this solid cast. Gender-bending is as old as Shakespeare (well, even older), Leo rationalizes to Jack while rummaging through their suitcase for female costumes. Cross-dressing can easily become a cheap gimmick to get a sure laugh, but here the Twelfth Night-style female impersonation rises to the level of high art. Matt Wallace, who is the Artistic Director of Shakespeare Behind Bars and Director of the Globe Players, is a dynamo as Leo/Max(ine). He's tall, but that's not all. Wallace commands the stage without dominating it. Bill Hanna, as Jack/Stephanie, is the perfect complement to Wallace. The contrast in the men's height is interesting visually. Hanna, who trained at Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey's Clown College, has some of the funniest lines, but doesn't resort to scene stealing. His antics are entertaining without being "over the top." When Carol Tyree Williams entered the stage (as Florence) for the first time, my jaw nearly dropped. She looked old and shriveled, even though she's not really. David Myers, whose resume includes many network television appearances, is highly amusing as Florence's bumbling doctor, named "Doc." Now back to the plot — Florence has a niece named Meg (Tina Jo Wallace, Matt's wife) who's engaged to Duncan, a sanctimonious preacher (Cary Wiger). Wiger is the "oldest living Footnote," having performed at Derby Dinner for 23 years. He moves about the stage like a paranoiac with a poker up his rear end, just as one would expect from such an uptight, avaricious minister. "Is that a chopstick in your pants or are you just happy to see me?" asks Stephanie during a ludicrous seduction scene. Wiger's physique makes this line even funnier. Tina Jo Wallace gives an animated performance as the vivacious Meg, especially during her Shakespearean sessions. Lemuel Jackson is impressive in the supporting role of Doc's son, Butch, who ends up being left in the cold as the true lovers find each other. He's resilient, though. He'll land on his feet. The dinner portion of this show was a bit uneven. The fried chicken was too salty. The scalloped potatoes tasted like the ones my Mom used to make (by Betty Crocker). The spinach casserole was soggy. On the other hand, the baked ham was tasty and not too salty. The salad bar was flavorful, with many offerings. The service was outstanding. Everything is shipshape in that department. In fact, I felt as though I were on a cruise. The Footnotes' preshow entertainment is delightful and gets the audience in the mood for the hilarity ahead. They sang "Afternoon Delight," from the upcoming 8 Track musical celebration of the 70's. Afterward, the room was filled with people joyously imitating the "skyrockets in flight" sounds ("Boo!") from the song. As with all shows I've seen at Derby Dinner Playhouse, I left feeling happy and sated. Director Bekki Jo Schneider has outdone herself with this particular production, however. Every inch of the stage is utilized fully. There's never a dull moment. The comic timing, including the reactions, is impeccable. Bill Hanna's and Matt Wallace's British accents are flawless. If I didn't know better, I'd swear they hailed from Great Britain. But, as Max tells Meg, "It doesn't matter where you started from, it's where you end up that's important." If, like me, you're a fan of Joe Orton, you'll enjoy this play. Even if you're not, you, like the audience on opening night, will love it.
Featuring Tina Jo Wallace, Matt Wallace, Bill
Hanna, Janet Essenpreis, Cary Wiger, Carol Tyree
Williams, David Myers, and Lemuel Jackson.
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