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A CurtainUp New Jersey Review
The Liar
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"Ladies & Gentlemen! Mesdames, messieurs! All cell phones off? All cellophane secure? Finish your texting now, not during my scene. I’m in some theater, But, like, where’s the screen? "— Cliton (opening monologue)
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(l to r) Jim Hopkins as Dorante’s father, Brian Cade as Dorante
(Photo: Gerry Goodstein) |
Although The Liar had its world premier at Washington’s Shakespeare Theatre Company in 2010 (Curtainup review), this new production, under the sparkling direction of Paul Mullins, has been cast with some wonderfully deft pretenders and artful poseurs, all adept at the hitting the mark on all those rhymed couplets. If the pentameter-propelled text is often more than one can absorb, so is the plot. But who really cares? We are, nevertheless, intrigued enough to follow the amorous misadventures of a country lawyer/egotistical would-be Casanova named Dorante (Brian Cade), as he gets deeper and deeper in the maze he creates with his lies among the Parisian aristocracy. His self-incriminating dilemmas are set in motion with his telling a trio of strolling lovely ladies that he is a distinguished soldier returned from the wars.
The situation is set up delightfully by Cliton (a wry and chipper performance by Kevin Isola), a vagrant who cleverly reveals to us that he cannot tell a lie. He does seize upon the opportunity to become a valet to the well-dressed Doronte when he targets him while walking in the Tuileries Garden. The handsome setting designed by Michael Schweikardt has just enough landscaping with potted greenery and a picturesque backdrop to make its case. It is a kick to see chandeliers hanging on high and prepared to make their obligatory descent when the scene changes.
Soon enough Cliton becomes Dorante’s unwitting collaborator in his master’s recklessly misguided wooing of a dazzling blonde Clarice (Jane Pfitsch), her winsome best friend Lucrece (Maya Kazan) and their respective servants, both played delightfully and marked contrast of personality by Katie Fabel for the usual comedy of errors results. Cade is a hoot as the incorrigibly self-serving Doronte who divulges an elaborately plotted but never really executed seduction of Clarice to his best friend Alcippe (Clark Carmichael). That’s when things get complicated. Not only is Alcippe secretly betrothed to Clarice, but she also is plotting with Lucrece, who secretly loves Dorante. This does not take into account the machinations of Dorante’s father Geronte (a bellowing Jim Hopkins) to get a wife for his son.
The real pleasures of this hardly risqué but stunningly convoluted romp are not derived by following its contrivances (impossible), but in falling in line with the constant barrage of giddily contemporized rhymes that drive this daffy farce and by the charm of the actors delivering it. Enormous credit goes to this fine cast that nevertheless strikes their respective poses with consummate skill and panache. If I have a quibble, it is the preponderance of posturing by the actors obliged to speak directly to the audience, an apparent homage to the 17th century style of acting. The 17th century also in-our-face haute couture by costume designer Candida K. Nichols is spectacular.
A highlight is a riotously funny duel between Dorante and Alcippe in which neither (well, I won’t spoil it for you). Yes, scenery chewing is part of the fun and fun it is if you fall in line with Corneille’s theme as spoken by Dorante, “The unimagined life is not worth living.” There may be some who will want to agree more with Cliton’s remark “This may be more than what I asked for,” but in the end you will mostly likely have to admit that what you got was good for quite a few laughs.
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The Liar By David Ives, adapted from the comedy by Pierre Corneille Directed by Paul Mullins Cast: Brain Cade (Dorante), Kevin Isola (Cliton), Jim Hopkins (Geronte), Jane Pfitsch (Clarice), Maya Kazan (Lucrece), Clark Carmichael (Alcippe), James Russell), Katie Fabel (Isabelle, Sabine) Scenic Designer: Michael Scheeikardt Costume Designer: Candida K. Nichols Lighting Designer: Andrew Hungerford Sound Designer: Karin Graybash Running time: 2 hours including intermission Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, located on the campus of Drew University, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ. (973) 408 – 5600 Tickets ($32 - $70) Performances: Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. From: 07/04/12 Opened 07/07/12 Ends 07/29/12 Reviews by Simon Saltzman based on performance 07/07/12 |
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