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CurtainUp The Internet Theater Magazine of Reviews, Features,
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A CurtainUp NJ Review
The Outsider
Using a script that purposefully has no regard for plausibility, a company of expert farceurs appear committed to keeping the Paper Mill's audiences laughing louder and longer than they have in a long time. The hilariously inane banter and the onslaught of one funny situation after another unravels perfectly under the precise direction of David Esbjornson. Ned Newley (a delightfully deadpan Lenny Wolpe) is a brilliant but low-key lieutenant governor who suddenly finds himself in charge when the governor elect gets the boot for sleeping with the runner-up of a beauty pageant. Despite his stammering and stuttering and his being totally at sea when facing the public, Newley has a full understanding for balancing budgets as well as having a genuine comprehension for the workings of the American Government and the Democratic process. Newley's main ally is the resolute chief of staff Dave Riley (Manoel Felciano) who desperately wants him to shape up and project an appealing public image in order to avoid a special election. His strategy includes getting the help of a savvy polster Page Caldwell (Julia Duffy) and a seasoned political consultant Arthur Vance (an imposing Burke Moses) to give Newley the needed confidence in front of the TV cameras. Using Newley's insecurities and worst characteristics as its chief asset, Duffy and Vance's goal is to make him appear as the people's choice. But things get quickly out-of-hand with the arrival of Louise Peakes (Erin Noel Grennan), who has been hastily hired as a temp to serve as the Governor's assistant. Louise turns out to be the dizziest and most incompetent assistant anyone could imagine. Yet she surprisingly becomes an asset to the campaign. As foolish as it sounds, Smith's comedy gets right to the heart of selling an untypical politician to the public through the power of the media. But below the surface in plain sight, we are also led to seeing how the probability of competence is able to rise to the top in a Democratic society. A pleasing secondary plot involves Rachel Parsons (Kelley Curran) an attractive reporter who becomes as nonplussed by the ensuing chaos as she is by her unexpected interest in the equally flummoxed Riley who can't believe what is happening. Kudos also to Rachel's grunting cameraman well played by Mike Houston. The office of the governor gets what you would expect from the excellent scenic designer Michael Schweikardt. In this very funny play, it's the characters who inhabit it who give us much more than we expect. |
Search CurtainUp in the box below PRODUCTION NOTES The Outsider by Paul Slade Smith Directed by David Esbjornson Cast: Julia Duffy (Paige Caldwell), Manoel Felciano (Dave Riley), Erin Noel Grennan (Louise Peaks), Lenny Wolpe (Ned Newley), Burke Moses (Arthur Vance), Kelley Curran (Rachel Parsons), Mike Houston (A.C. Petersen) Scenic Design: Michael Schsweikardt Costume Design: Elizabeth Hope-Clancy Lighting Design: Ben Stanton Sound Design: Randy Hansen Production Stage Manager: Mark A. Stys Running Time: 2 hours 20 minutes including intermission Paper Mill Playhouse, 22 Brookside Drive, Millburn, New Jersey (973) 376-4343 Tickets: $34.00 and up Performances: 7:30 pm Wednesday, 1:30 and 7:30 pm. Thursday, 8 pm Friday, 1:30 and 8 pm. Saturday, 1:30 and 7 pm. Sunday. From 01/24/18 Opened 01/28/18 Ends 02/18/18 Review by Simon Saltzman based on performance 01/28/18 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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