by dick kerekes dickkerekes@yahoo.com
Players by the Sea opened a rollicking new farce The Underpants last weekend which will run through the 24th of May. I say a new farce; actually it dates by to l911 when it was written by German playwright Carl Sternheim and called Die Hose. Comedian Steve Martin adapted it, putting his brand of one line humor in it, and renaming it The Underpants.
The plot concerns what happens after a young German housewife, Louise (played with flirtatious charm by Jen Mears), somehow lets her underpants briefly fall while waving vigorously at the King passing by in a street parade. Everyone seemed to notice and the word soon gets back to Louise’s dreary, non-sexual husband Theo, who fears he will lose his government job due to the scandal. Tom Ming is very funny as Theo, the very loud but somewhat naive husband whose main concern in life is money.
As it is Theo has more to worry about than what the public thinks, as strangers inspired by seeing his wife in the state of undress arrive to rent the small room they have available in their home. A flamboyant and buffoonish poet Versati is played by Paul Rowe in the most unique role of the many he had done locally. Wait until you see his stage movement and his big seduction scene!!
Also stretching his talents into new directions, is veteran actor Leonard Alterman, as the Jewish barber Cohen, (that’s Cohen with a K), who wants to rent the room to preserve the honor Louise from the seduction attempts from the poet. This is one of the most physical roles Alterman has done and certainly one of the most fun.
The final boarder, the mysterious scientist Klinglehoff is played by one of Player’s favorite actors, Redgie Gutshall, looking like the villain in every melodrama ever written. I had to restrain myself from hissing and booing Gutshall. He speaks few words but says volumes with wonderful gestures and facial expressions.
Another hilarious character actually enters the play rather early. Getrude, the nosy and noisy neighbor lives upstairs and listens to everything happening through the floor. Amy Allen Farmer is over the top in this role, and the funniest busybody I have ever seen on any stage. She vicariously lives out her sexual fantasies and frustrations by encouraging Louise’s infidelity. Wally Condon made his stage debut starting at the top. He plays the King in the final scene. I guess there is no place for him to go but down after this.
The play is directed by Tom Fallon who has been directing since age l7. He came to Jacksonville as a stage manager for the Alhambra Dinner, eventually directing some plays and assuming the role of general manager. When the Alhambra was sold, he moved on to the movie business and has worked on almost every movie project done in the past few years in the North Florida. Most recently he was the Tallahassee Location Manger for the upcoming HBO movie “Recount”. Fallon has chosen an absolutely marvelous cast, and explored all the nuances of this comedy with their talent.
Fallon convinced former Alhambra set designer Ham Waddell to come out of retirement and design what is a magnificent 1910 German home in one of the best sets I have ever seen at Players by the Sea. Scenic artists Jim Lynch and Herman McEachin added the finishing touches to complete the picture.
Tom’s wife, Tina Fallon began their partnership in marriage back at the Alhambra, and they have two very talented daughters, Julia and Melody, who will one day, be full time professionals in theatre. The multi-talented Tina designed and created the costumes that take us back to old Germany. Nothing cheap about this production, the ladies have several changes of clothing, and the Poet’s attire must be seen to be appreciated since it defies description with words.
If you saw Steve Martin’s only other play Picasso at the Lapin Agile you know he is a talented writer. With that “wild and crazy guy” you never know what to expect next, and this is true with The Underpants. It is a little bit bawdy, a little bit naughty with a lot of it in double entendres. For reservations call 294-0289 or visit www.playersbythesea.org
Article Published in the May 2008 Issue of EU Jacksonville
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