The second show of Academy Players 54th season is "Lend Me a
Tenor" a Tony Award winning farce by Ken Ludwig. Set in
September, 1934, the show revolves around renowned tenor Tito
Merelli, known to his fans as "Il Stupendo,'' who is scheduled to
sing the lead in Otello, produced as a gala fundraiser for the
Cleveland Opera Company. Unfortunately, even before the star leaves
his hotel room, everything begins to unravel. Chaos ensues when
Merelli's hot tempered wife, Maria has mistaken Maggie, an
autograph-seeker hidden in his closet for a secret lover, leaves
Tito a "Dear John" letter. The distraught Merelli accidentally is
given a double dose of tranquilizers to calm him down and passes
out. Saunders, the hard-ass company's General Manager and Maggie's
father, is determined the show must go on for his own financial
sake, so he asks his assistant Max who is infatuated with Maggie, to
impersonate the opera star. Max puts on the black-face makeup
required for the role of Otello, and his disguise succeeds admirably
until Merelli wakes up, puts black-face on and heads for the stage.
What follows is a chain-reaction of mistaken identity, plot twists,
double entendres, innuendoes, and constant entrances and exits
through the many doors on the unit hotel suite set. Throw in Diana,
the opera diva soprano and Julia, the chairman of the board of the
opera company who pursue Max and Tito when they are dressed up as
Otello and a manic opera loving bellhop to complete this 8 member
cast. Vincent Lupino does wonders with this show by putting some
clever sight gags (shaking a bottle of champagne and kneeling in
front of someone to suggest sexual acts) and slapstick moments
including rubbery legs and throwing of the men on the beds and sofa
to give the show the necessary ingredients for this comic romp.
Vinny is aided in his huge task by his crew. Stage manager Meryn
Flynn and her assistant, Eileen Goretaya keep things running
smoothly all night long. The excellent hotel suite set of the 1930's
was designed by Neil Santoro so Vinny has to block his performers on
both sides of the stage. Stage left is the living room section of
the hotel suite with an archway to the kitchen, an hotel room door
and a picture window. The doorway between the rooms leads into the
bedroom section with a door to the corridor, a closet door and
bathroom door. The wonderful costumes are by Heather Tingle with
the two Otello costumes by Marcia Zammarelli. Julia's wig design is
by Chuck Lafond, the lighting design is by Michael Hyde while the
sound design is by Terrence Shea with props by Barbara Green.
Light and sound board operator is Zach Searle. Michael Johnson who I
directed in "Caught in the Net" in 2005, leads the troupe in
merriment with his clever dialogue. He goes from meek and mild
assistant using a higher sounding voice to forceful opera singer
when he imitates Tito finally obtaining the woman of his dreams.
Michael once again shows his comic prowess. playing the character
wonderfully. Terrence whom I never saw before on stage is excellent
as the swaggering Tito Merelli. He plays Merelli with an Italian
accent and a strong stage presence. His and Michael's singing scenes
soar with the power of their voices. They have many funny moments
especially the double entendres and the mixed up happenings when
they woo different girls at the same time.
The mean general manager, Saunders is played by Brian Lamothe. He
captures the hard edge of this character but infuses him with many
comic moments including his jumping on Tito's body in bed which is
very funny. Brian handles comic roles very well having directed him
in many murder mysteries for Whodunnit. Kate Arthur, a pretty
brunette plays the young virginal, Maggie who wants to have a fling
before she settles down. She gives this infatuated ingénue a
backbone who stands up to her father while thinking she is in love
with Tito. She says she wants his autograph and he signs a letter
for her while she thinks he wants to make love. The scene where
Max's black makeup rubs off on her face is a hoot. Maggie finally
realizes she loves Max after all. (The love making scene builds to a
climax with operatic music and a quick blackout with them on the
sofa while Tito and Diana do it on the bed on the opposite side of
the stage.) The hilarious hot tempered Italian wife is fantastically
played by red headed Camille Terilli. When she finds Maggie hiding
in the closet she calls her a putain, a slut in Italian. She runs
roughshod over Tito and the other characters while chasing them
around the sofa and out of the bedroom. Her gestures and actions are
priceless and she receives much laughter with her antics. Camille
and Terry play off one another perfectly like a real life married
couple with their spats.
The opera loving Bellhop is beautifully played by 19 year old
Matthew Royality-Lindman who I recently reviewed as Jacob Marley in
"A Christmas Carol". He is a bundle of energy every time he enters
the stage and uses his many facial expressions, timing his jokes
which leads to much laughter. The opera soprano, Diana who plays
Desdemona and has slept with all the men in the opera company is
wonderfully played by blonde haired buxom, Kathleen Bebeau-Katic.
Diana wants to join the opera company in New York and will seduce
Tito to do it. After the performance with Max she returns to the
hotel room asking Tito how she performed that night with Tito
thinking she and her family are prostitutes. A clever bit occurs
when Terry pretends to get excited with her seduction attempt by
covering his crotch with a phone book. Kathy returns to the stage
after a long absence as this sex crazed character. It's good to have
her back onstage, having first seen her in 1981 in "Cinderella" at
Rhode Island College. The wealthy dowager, Julia is well played by
Karen Gail Kessler who wears a gray gown with a bright sequined
overlay on it which makes her look like the Chrysler building. (To
make her look older she wears a gray wig designed by Chuck Lafond
who I directed in "Butterflies Are Free" in 2005.) Karen plays
this older woman well and is hilarious as she also tries to seduce
Tito by throwing him on the bed, leading to many laughs. Her
portrayal of Julia will remind you of the Margaret Dumont character
from the Marx Brothers movies of that time period. (I also directed
Karen in "The Female Odd Couple" in 1994 which also starred Camille
and Vinny.) So for a fun filled evening of sexual escapades and
hilarity be sure to catch "Lend Me a Tenor" before time runs out.
You will be glad you did.
LEND ME A TENOR ( 20 February to 1 March,
2009)
Academy Players, East Greenwich High
School, 300 Avenger Drive, East Greenwich, RI
