Design For Living
The second show of The Players 101st season is "Design for Living"
which is a comedy play written by Noel Coward in 1932. It concerns a
trio of artistic characters, Gilda, Otto and Leo, and their complicated
three-way relationship, a menage a trois. Originally written to star Lynn
Fontanne, Alfred Lunt and Coward, it was premiered on Broadway, partly
because its risque subject matter was thought unacceptable to the official
censor in London. Director John Michael Richardson updates the
show to modern times and he casts the 8 best performers in
these roles. The comic moments get funnier as the show
progresses which makes it a sexy, hilarious and provocative
show. He blocks his performers beautifully, gives them clever shtick
and comic routines to perform which wins them a thunderous ovation at
curtain call.<P>
John Michael is not only a topnotch director but is a fantastic
actor, too. I will give a brief synopsis of it. The show is set in Paris.
Gilda, an interior designer who lives with the painter Otto, is visited by
their friend Ernest Friedman an art dealer. He tells her their mutual
friend, the playwright Leo, is back in Paris after making a success in New
York.As Ernest is shown to the door by Otto, Leo enters from the
bedroom. When Otto returns they tell him they slept together. They have a
furious row and 18 months later in London, Leo's plays are a success.
Otto shows up while Leo is away. Shortly afterwards Gilda
and Otto's love is rekindled. The next morning when Ernest calls on
Gilda, she tells him she is leaving Leo. They depart and when Leo returns
to discover Otto there, they find the good-by notes she has left both
of them. They drown their sorrows in brandy and then sherry, they
embrace only to end up in the bed sobbing helplessly. Meanwhile
two years later, Gilda has married Ernest, lives in New York and
became a commercially successful designer. She throws a party which
is crashed by Otto and Leo. She slips them a key to her apartment. After
thinking things over she slowly realizes that the attraction Otto and
Leo exert over her is irresistible. Gilda tells her husband that she
has been normal for two years and is leaving him. Ernest leaves and
denounces the disgusting three-sided erotic hodge-podge as Gilda,
Otto and Leo fall together on the bed in gales of
laughter.
The most hysterical scenes are the drunken scene
and the scene when Leo and Otto crash Gilda's party. An erotic
dancing segment has to be seen to be believed and is done by the whole
cast in the vein of a Saturday Night Live dance. John Michael
explains in his director's note that the bed had to be placed down
center so that the audience could define for themselves the true nature of
Gilda's dilemma:her odd twistings and turnings.The homosocial behavior of
Otto and Leo leads to an aggressive rivalry for the same woman, a love
triangle that is inevitable. They must find their own design for living
and it is in New York that they do just that. Stage managers Kevin
Broccoli and Tara Mudrak keep things running smoothly all night long
with the cast moving furniture, changing portraits on the wall to change
locales.The show was considered risque in its day. The three leading
players do a fantastic job in their roles and show their comic prowess all
night long. Rachel Morris captures the madcap
behavior of Gilda who brings the audience into her world as she
lusts after both men, having them hidden at different times in her
bed. Gilda changes her mind at a moments notice and finally throws
Ernest out of her life. Tall, dark and handsome Ara Boghigian plays Otto,
the artist while small, handsome wiry Rudy Sanda plays Leo the
playwright.(The three leads run around in their underwear at
different points in the show.) They handle the dramatic and comic
moments excellently especially the drunk scene being outstanding in
its hilarity with Ara burping in Rudy's face when you think he is about to
kiss him. Also when they crash the party they wear funny Santa hats, and
they come on to the guests with Rudy pawing Mark's shoulder
and sitting in Tara's lap at one point which is hilarious. Ara does a
pelvic thrust routine to Monique that is another laugh out loud
moment.
The supporting cast does terrific work, too.Jim Sullivan does a
marvelous job as the long suffering Ernest who puts up with their
shenanigans throughout the years. Ernest's meltdown near the end of the
show is topnotch when he hurls the suitcases and clothes at Otto and Leo
as he runs out of the penthouse. Tara is enchanting as the naive Helen
Carver who has to grow up quickly as Leo and Otto perform their antics in
the party scene.(Congratulations to Tara and her husband,Ed on their
impending birth of their twins in June.) Mark Gentsch who recently
played the dramatic lead in "Rabbit Hole" plays Henry
Carver, the brash but disapproving American and Monique Shagalian
plays the wealthy Grace Torrence who thinks everything is lovely in
Gilda's penthouse. She has a funny scene where she suggestively asks
Ara's character if he'd like a ride home.Mr. Birbeck, the put-upon British
journalist is played by David Epstein. So for a rousing night
of acting superlatives and hilarity, make sure you see
"Design For Living". John Michael gives a comic introduction at the start
of the show to start off the festivities. Be sure to call Lydia to
become a member of this century old theatre club.
DESIGN FOR LIVING ( 4
to 13 December, 2009)
The Players, Barker
Playhouse, 400 Benefit Street, Providence,RI
1(401) 273-0590 or
www.playersri.org