BWW Reviews: Austin Playhouse Triumphs with TRIUMPH OF LOVE

While regional theatres often lean towards staging Tony winning, crowd pleasing musicals, occasionally one may boldly look towards a show that is off the beaten path and lacks a trophy cabinet full of awards. Austin Playhouse has done exactly that with their current production of Triumph of Love and has unearthed a hidden gem of a show in the process. Still, even the most sparkling of diamonds could benefit from a little bit of polishing.

Originally staged on Broadway in 1997, Triumph of Love is a small, seven person chamber musical based on the 1732 commedia dell'arte play Le Triomphe de l'Amour by Pierre de Marivaux. Spartan Princess Leonide falls madly for the handsome Agis, a young man who lives with his uncle Hermocrates, a scholar whose estate is decidedly men-only as women are not allowed to be logical and educated (let's ignore for now that Hermocrates allows his sister, Hesione, to live there). To infiltrate the (mostly) male dominated house, Leonide and her servant, Corine disguise themselves as men. Problems ensue when Leonide discovers that her beloved Agis is the true heir of Sparta whose parents were murdered by Leonide's father and that Agis is determined to avenge their deaths by killing Leonide. More problems ensue when Agis's Aunt Hesione and Uncle Hermocrates fall for Leonide, Hesione assuming Leonide is truly a man and Hermocrates knowing that she is a woman.

While Marivaux's original play caused quite a scandal in France when originally produced, the show's farcical notions of gender roles, sexism, and the battle of emotion versus logic is easily accepted by a modern audience. While there are a few major plot holes and issues (Where on earth did Leonide first see Agis? What about him made her fall in love? Why does no one immediately think that a marriage between them could restore peace throughout the land? How does Agis believe that Leonide is a man when she sings in a soprano register in front of him?), it's still very entertaining, though plenty of disbelief must be willingly suspended. While James Magruder's book is sometimes clunky and could improve with a bit more character and plot development, the plentiful sexual innuendos and anachronistic jokes will have you grinning and laughing. The score by Jeffrey Stock is a delightful mix of vaudevillian, classic Broadway style numbers and more classical, Baroque inspired sounds, and the lyrics by Susan Birkenhead are wonderfully clever.

Like the material, the production by Austin Playhouse has a few minor flaws here and there but is overall a delight. The staging by Don and Lara Toner is strong, particularly when the characters get to be over-the-top, but it could use a bit more energy and variety. There's quite a bit of characters facing out as they sing or deliver their songs, and while I'm guessing that may be to compensate for the lack of microphones, it's still a bit distracting when characters should be speaking to each other and not out to the audience. Patrick and Holly Crowley's unit set of a beautiful French garden (yes, we're in Sparta, but Sparta is an 18th century French countryside estate) is absolutely breathtaking and lush, and the lighting by Don Day completes the warm feel of the environment. Though her work is always superb, the detailed period costumes by Glenda Barnes are among her best work, with the one exception of the puzzling costume worn by Hermocrates. Surely a philosopher like Hermocrates could logically induce that accessorizing his Baroque inspired garb with a turban and a floor-length black robe would make him look like a ridiculous mix of Louix XVI, Norma Desmond, and Jafar from Aladdin. Still, with that one puzzling outfit aside, the rest of the costumes are all a feast for the eyes.

Of the cast, all seven performers are fantastic. Though the character of Agis is intended to be the leading man, he's so underwritten you may consider the role a featured one. Nevertheless, Glenn DeVar makes the most of every moment, particularly his beautifully sung solo "Issue in Question." He plays up Agis's nativity and innocence, making it easier for us to believe that he'd fall for Leonide's thin deception. As leading lady Princess Leonide, Sarah Zeringue is better than she thinks she is. Zeringue is a beautiful woman with a gorgeous singing voice. It's odd that given her undeniable talents, there are times where she looks uncomfortable, particularly in her could-be-star-making solos of "Anything" and "What Have I Done." However, that uneasiness melts away when she gets to assume her various disguises and deceptions. When Zeringue's called upon to seduce any of her counterparts, her winning charms come out.

It's clear that the show's creators give the best material to the featured players, and the featured actors of Triumph of Love are quite memorable. As Hesione, Boni Hester has the challenge of stepping into a role originated by the great Betty Buckley, the sole original cast member to earn a Tony nomination for their performance. While she might not have as forceful of a belt as Buckley, Hester nevertheless has a splendid voice, and as she creates a slightly neurotic character, her comedic gifts are definitely apparent. Rick Roemer is also strong as the wise Hermocrates, the most dignified dirty old man that you will ever meet. As the clownish Harlequin, Huck Huckaby is appropriately playful and exuberant, and Brian Coughlin plays the gardener Dimas with a gruff, cranky persona. As wonderful as the entire cast is, Lara Wright as Leonide's servant Corine is easily the most memorable. She's superbly funny as the man-crazy seductress who has many a tryst with both Harlequin and Dimas. The character gets around so much, she may be patient zero for the syphilis epidemic of the 1700s. Really, when you sleep with a clown as Corine does, you're bound to catch some funny disease. But jokes aside, Wright's performance is excellent. She ensures that with a wink, an eyebrow raise, and a pucker of the lips, Corine seduces us long before she seduces the men around her.

True, Triumph of Love has a few rough points, but love is never easy and without its problems. Though the flaws are apparent, there's a lot to love about this solid production.

Running time: Approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes, including one 15 minute intermission.

TRIUMPH OF LOVE plays the Austin Playhouse in the Highland Mall at 6001 Airport Blvd, Austin 78752 now thru July 7th. Performances are Thursday - Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 5pm. There is no performance on Thursday, July 4th. Tickets are $30-$32. For tickets and information, visit www.austinplayhouse.com.

Top Photo: Sarah Zeringue as Leonide's alter ego, Phocion. Bottom Photo: Huck Huckaby (left) as Harlequin and Brian Coughlin (right) as Dimas. Photos by Christopher Loveless.

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