Had the non-stop la, la, la, laughs with a Solid Cast and Great Set Design
Every time I walk into the theatre and see the set, I wonder whether designers like Dixon Fish, who designed the set for this production, could come to my humble abode to make the space all nice and pretty.
In the case of Theatre People, or The Angel Next Door by Paul Slade Smith, the design was detailed and, yes, pretty, having one of the many rooms in a lavish mansion at the center with a bed, lounge, and breakfast furniture, as well as plenty of doors which, according to the playwright and one of the writers in the performance, were not theatre- or audience-friendly.
The mansion, located in Newport, Rhode Island, will host a group of creatives and performers for a magno concert. Charlotte (Melissa Fernandes) and Arthur (Danny Campbell) are a married couple and esteemed Broadway playwrights who adapted Oliver’s (Kenny Bordieri) soon-to-be-published novel into a play, aiming for it to be the next big hit. Oliver’s novel “The Angel Next Door” is inspired (heavily) by his relationship with Broadway sensation Margot (Taylor Henderson). As everyone in the mansion gets acclimated, an encounter between Margot and Victor (John DeCarlo), another Broadway star, might change the course of everything. In the midst of it all, Olga (Sandy Campbell), the mansion’s housekeeper, will keep everybody on their toes.
I have to say, dear reader, you know how I love talking about running times with you. The play is two hours, including a 15-minute intermission, and it went by so fast! Which means that story, direction, and cast were in sync. Christopher Williams, through his direction, held the numerous interactions of the plots, plus subplots, between the different characters going nonstop, with the comedic breaths from the playwright, having its moments and breaths. This was aided by Michelle Miles’s lighting cueing the punch lines as well as the ins and outs of the characters.
Omar Ramos’s sound was key, as some scenes have only sound, and I will leave it there…The laughs were nonstop, resulting in a great time at the theatre.
The cast was well integrated with solid deliveries. The Fernandes-Campbell duo were fun and dynamic to see. Melissa kept up the momentum throughout the play, while Danny frequently interacted with some of Duane McGregor’s props, including eating scenes with a hilarious delivery. Kenny Bordieri’s performance combined the love, stress, and tenderness in Oliver, bringing a bit of each in a balanced way, making it believable and relatable. Taylor Henderson’s interpretation of Margot was so soft, poised, and paced. Truly embodying the persona of a 1940’s Broadway star. She kind of reminded me of Marilyn Monroe (was that a part of the conversation or play notes?), I do not know, but I liked it. John DeCarlo’s self-absorbed, not-all-there Victor was short but hysterical, and he conveyed the character’s questions and assumptions perfectly. Sandy Campbell as Olga stole the show. Between the heavy Eastern-European accent, the side-eye, and the sometimes awkward pauses, Campbell nailed that role. The uniform Heather Nunn chose for Olga wasn’t just a black dress with an apron. It had detail and a pattern. The business-casual attire for the playwrights and novelist was also on point, with a nice mid-1900s flair in the gowns and suits for the concert to beat.
For “Theatre people,” this play will be even funnier because of the puns and accuracy. But fear not, non-theatre people: this is a funny, tangled, but light play that will have you leaving the theatre with a smile.
It is the last week of performances, so catch it while you can.
Maggie Harris is the Stage Manager and Natalie Gelb is the Assistant Stage Manager.
D. Candis Paule is the Intimacy Director.
