Review: LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR at Walnut Street Theatre - An Homage to Sid Caesar and Mid Century TV

"Mid Century" is in renaissance. Mid-century décor, mid-century fashion, mid-century architecture (although Palm Springs architecture has never left the '50's and '60's). Now we welcome a resurgence of Mid Century entertainment at The Walnut, America's oldest theatre and a National Historic Landmark.

LAUGHTER ON THE 23rd FLOOR was written by Neil Simon, one of the writers on TV's legendary YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS, debuting in the Jurassic period of television, when there were but 3 stations! (I swear this is not an 'alternative fact').

The book is a compilation of his experiences over these years with this wacky pack of loons.

Sid Caesar's YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS lasted only 4 years; '50-'54. What I DO remember about it was witnessing in horror as my father convulsed and writhed on the floor watching the demented, frenetic chaos of Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris and this merry band of comic lunatics. My father's favorite was below:

LIVE TV. No cue cards, no teleprompters and strangely enough - knowing the comedians - no ad-libbing. It was cutting edge TV; superbly written sketches that poked fun at human foibles and pretentions.

For Aisle Say readers under age 50 and especially for the millennials, a bit of background: Sid Caesar is considered in the pantheon of Jonathan Winters, Eddie Murphy and Robin Williams. Caesar was The Manic who was trapped and ultimately blew up the basement in IT'S A MAD MAD WORLD. Imogene Coca was Aunt Edna in NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VACATION whose passing was an unceremonious ride on the top of the station wagon. Carl Reiner later produced and had a continuing role in The Dick Van Dyke Show. He has commented that the time spent on the 23rd floor was indeed an inspiration for that show as well.

This was the era of the Cold War, Stalin and McCarthyism, all of which play into the narrative, accompanied with a Gatling gun rat-a-tat-tat of one-liners.

Writer Milt (Steve Perlmutter) was twice divorced. When asked what happened with the second wife he replied that he had had a premonition: "At the wedding her father handed me an empty envelope".

The writers lived in fear of the force of nature that was Sid Caesar. He genuinely loved them as family but don't criticize him and - of utmost importance - be FUNNY! The Caesar character in this show is Max Prince, played by veteran comedian Frank Ferrante who doubles as Director and enters each scene with the stage command of JULIUS Caesar entering Rome, B.C.

The first act is a bit strained. With Act II, hang on and focus, focus! One wayward glance and you miss a gargantuan guffaw.

Ferrante is joined with a group of well-cast contemporary zanies. Ira (Scott Greer), a/k/a Carl Reiner, wins the award for funniest, insecure and petulant hypochondriac. Punctuality not his strong suit, Ira bursts through the door and screams to his colleagues, "I woke up with double vision. I was frantic. I called two cabs and took both of them!" In his most hysterical rant regarding a Marlon Brando sketch, Aisle Say saw a whole lot of Jackie Gleason in both delivery and body language.

Recalling this TV show tens of decades ago, I felt trapped in some parallel universe. I was witnessing LIVE the machinations of creating the LIVE TV that so impacted me a child. Maybe I should seek out Ira's shrink for an explanation.

Through Mar 5. www.WalnutStreetTheatre.org 215.574.3550 800.982.2787

Next up: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST Mar 14-Apr 30 SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER May 16-July 16

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