BWW Reviews: More ROOM SERVICE at the Vagabond Players

Mix together the quick wit of one producer, a dash of Broadway hopes and one unpaid hotel bill for $1200, and you've got John Murray and Allen Boretz's slapstick comedy "Room Service," now at the Vagabond Players in Baltimore.

First performed in 1937, this Depression-era play takes place entirely in Gordon Miller's (Eric C. Stein) room at the White Way Hotel, located "somewhere" in Times Square, NY.

The play opens on Miller, our aspiring producer, writing notes on the script for his surefire hit, "Godspeed," a historical fantasy written by a little-known man out in Oswego, NY. A waiter named Sasha Smirnoff (Mark Wible), having just delivered coffee, tries to convince Miller to give him a part in the play. His request is dismissed-Miller already has his cast in rehearsal, despite not having a backer for the show-and Sasha leaves, still just a waiter.

As soon as the door closes, it opens again, and in walks hotel manager and Miller's brother-in-law, Joseph Gribble (Ian Bonds). With constant dabs to his sweating forehead-he's a stressed man-Gribble pleads with Miller to settle the overdue hotel bill.

And that sets Miller off on what he does best-scheming.

It's this cleverness that keeps him out of trouble-only to get Miller into even more misfortune-and pushes the show from quiet moments reserved for scheming, to hijinks, laughter and constant small catastrophes.

Joined by his best friend and "Godspeed" director, Harry Binion (Larry Malkus), the pair concoct plan upon plot to keep their actors from going homeless and hungry-two things Miller and Binion are willing to risk for the sake of their show.

Well, maybe not the homelessness.

And when Leo Davis (Greg Jericho), "Godspeed" playwright, turns up, looking for a home (and a possible paycheck) Miller only attempts to send Davis back to his family ("How could you leave your mother alone with your stepfather?") for a few minutes before realizing the country boy's true potential.

Davis would make an excellent sickly scapegoat.

A tactic used to keep Gribble and his boss, White Way executive Gregory Wagner (Peter Jensen), at bay, Davis receives a different diagnosis nearly every day. "You wouldn't toss a sick man out on the street, would ya?" Miller asks.

"Room Service" is a typical Broadway baby story made special thanks to the simple setting, attention to detail-period pieces are always a challenge, but costume designer Ann Mainolfi nailed it-and a unique cast of characters who bring out the best in each other.

Jericho's spot-on performance as the naïve Leo Davis reminds me of Cary Grant in the movie, "Bringing up Baby," an image only reinforced by the portrayals of Miller and Binion, two men who could have easily matched wit for wit with the vivacious Katherine Hepburn, Grant's costar.

And I can't forget Miller's antagonist and unwitting play backer by the end, Wagner. His Orson Welles-like attitude clashes perfectly with not only the intrepid Miller, but also his own nervous wreck of a companion, Gribble, whose facial tics were so believable that I began to feel stressed for him.

The challenge of a one-room, one-set play is just that; actors must rely on their skills to keep the audience engaged; there's only so much flower wallpaper can do to hold my interest, after all. But "Room Service" doesn't need set changes, not with this cast. Snappy dialogue, comical expressions and exaggerated body language kept a smile on my face throughout the whole show.

My only disappointment is that I never did find out the whole plot of "Godspeed." Now I'll never know what happened to that Polish miner.

"Room Service" continues its run at the Vagabond Players at 806 S. Broadway, now through May 12. Tickets are $18, with available discounts for seniors, students, active duty military and groups. For more information, call 410-563-9135 or visit vagabondplayers.org.

Photo Credit: Carol Evans

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