CurtainUp
The Internet Theater Magazine of Reviews, Features,
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CurtainUp The Internet Theater Magazine of Reviews, Features,
Annotated Listings |
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A CurtainUp NJ Review
The Gods of Comedy
Ludwig's dominance as America's most lauded contemporary playwright of farces has not been challenged. The only challenge I can see at the present is how to get The Gods of Comedy into some kind of cohesive comical structure before it takes off for a run at San Diego's The Old Globe, McCarter's associate producing partner for this venture. At present, I can't imagine how any of the ancient Greek gods of comedy will look down kindly upon what is being perpetrated in their name and in the service of farce upon the McCarter stage under the direction of Amanda Dehnert. Given that allowances must be made for the rewrites that presumably will continue to shape the play and for the capable performers who must deal with them as professionals must, the result at this point is a play that is far from ready for the stage. I suspect that there may be something really funny hidden deep beneath the rash of frenetic antics and the kind of acting that gives a bad name to what is traditionally referred to as scenery chewing. But these flaws only compound the play's problems. It's obvious from the first scene that director Dehnert does not fully trust the material so, in the oldest of theatrical traditions, she has the actors do everything bigger, faster and louder. Like all good farces, the play begins with a reasonable premise: Daphne (Shay Vawn) an instructor in the history department of an American university is directing a production of Medea by Euripides as a part of her tenure program. While in Greece, she meets Ralph (Jevon McFerrin) a new professor. He's a classicist who believes he has unearthed an unknown play by Eurpides about Andromeda and Perseus that will change history because it only has two characters. Back at the university things go awry when Daphne not only loses her two lead actors but loses the text of the new play that Ralph has left in her care. In despair, she calls out to the Greek gods for help. Suddenly Dionysus (Brad Oscar) and Thalia (Dessie Cannizzaro) appear in ancient Grecian attire and really know how to camp it up. They are ready and eager to help her as well as find the missing play. It wouldn't be a farce unless things get more complicated and they do with the arrival of the fully armored and intensely amorous Ares. Arriving with the assist of a Star Wars fanfare, Ares is played by George Psomas, who also plays Aristide the Greek peddler as well as Alexsi, a daffy Russian janitor. Steffanie Leight plays an ambitious actress and former alum who wants the lead in the new play. She also plays Aristede's wife Zoe. Award for chief defender of Thespis — the ancient and Greek founder of the acting tradition — goes to Keira Naughton as the ever intrusive Dean Trickett. More than a little daffy by design, they all become key players in an ensuing muddle of misadventures. No need to go an further into the plot's many convolutions in which the gods become visible and then invisible while also impersonating others at will, There is an end to the nonsense designed to make everyone happy. Is this play salvageable? Yes, with help of a tough and committed dramaturg. Perhaps then Dehnert, who so ably directed Ludwig's Baskerville... at McCarter (also Kate Hamill's Pride and Prejudice , one of my favorite productions Off Broadway a few seasons back), can pull back on the reins and let the best of this farce come forth. What remains best are Jason Sherwood's handsome scenic designs that transport us from a bazaar on the island of Naxos in Greece to the faculty office of an American liberal arts college and finally to the campus grounds. The practical and whimsical costumes by Linda Roethke are excellently designed. Lighting designer Brian Gale has cast the best light possible on a play in desperate need. |
Search CurtainUp in the box below PRODUCTION NOTES The Gods of Comedy by Ken Ludwig Directed by Amanda Dehnert Scenic Design: Jason Sherwood Costume Design: Linda Roethke Lighting Design: Brian Gale Sound Design: Darron L. West Production Stage Manager: Cheryl Mintz Running Time: 2 hours including intermission Matthews Theatre at McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place, Princeton, N.J. From 03/12/19 Opened 03/16/19 Ends 03/31/19 Review by Simon Saltzman based on performance 03/16/19 by Ken Ludwig Directed by Amanda Dehnert Scenic Design: Jason Sherwood Costume Design: Linda Roethke Lighting Design: Brian Gale Sound Design: Darron L. West Production Stage Manager: Cheryl Mintz Running Time: 2 hours including intermission Matthews Theatre at McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place, Princeton, N.J. From 03/12/19 Opened 03/16/19 Ends 03/31/19 Review by Simon Saltzman based on performance 03/16/19 NJ CONNECTIONS NJ Theaters NJ Theatre Alliance Discount Tix Information REVIEW FEEDBACK Highlight one of the responses below and click "copy" or"CTRL+C"
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