BWW REVIEWS: Miners Alley's PRESENT LAUGHTER - Whimsically Witty!

The first show of the new year for me was the humorous 1939 Noel Coward classic, PRESENT LAUGHTER, produced by Miners Alley Playhouse in Golden, CO and playing through February
12th. The show revolves around playboy and popular British actor Garry Essendine, who is busily making preparations for an extended overseas tour with his dedicated and emotionally pregnant secretary, Monica. His plans are complicated first by Daphne, a beautiful stage ingénue and fan, as well as an unusual aspiring playwright named Roland Maule, who insists on having all of Garry's attention. When his estranged wife Liz, his agents, and numerous admirers arrive throughout the day, Garry is hard pressed to escape. Typical of Coward's sparkling dialogue and alluring wit, Garry finds himself in a potentially lethal love triangle and clumsily flees the chaos, arriving at last into the arms of his estranged wife.

"This is without a doubt the most irritating morning of my life" pretty much sums up this whimsical and complicated show. When dealing with smart comedic timing such as Coward's, one must examine what works to enhance the show and what doesn't.

WORKS - those wonderful costumes! Costume designer Ann Piano is to be commended for such
a diverse and colorful array of costumes that illustrate character personalities. In homage to the 1980s, Ms. Piano gives us stunning eveningwear, appropriate common and servant wear for the time, and even tacky wear that fit every actor and character with charm. I found myself looking forward to seeing which fabulous design would appear next, and was consistently pleased with the selections.

WORKS - those varied and wonderful accents! From British to Scottish to Russian to whatever inflection Mr. Maule uttered that made me pee my pants from laughter, the accents were thoroughly rehearsed and so enjoyable to listen to. The actors not only make the accents their own, they also maintain their dialects for the duration, which requires constant attention and energy. Especially notable in this regard is Chris Bleau in the lead role of Garry Essendine. His subtle vernacular and witty performance kept me captivated from beginning to raucous end. Bleau has
wonderful stage presence and a physicality that demands attention. Stellar job, Mr. Bleau!

DOESN'T WORK - a couple of oddball choices that fell flat and didn't make any sense. While these choices did not alter the plot or wreck the show, they made me raise my eyebrows in a "I hope
they explain this at some point along the way" way. While the homage to the '80s was fun, painting Garry's toenails black made absolutely no sense and was distracting at times. Also, if you are going to take a long, luxurious bath in your flat, be sure to wipe the lipstick stain from your cheek, you dirty playboy, you! Unless, of course, it's part of the plot for the lipstick to be discovered, thus leading to more farcical hijinks. Which it doesn't. So, I don't buy it. The other oddity is a big one. While everyone had varied and accomplished dialects on stage, one really didn't make sense so it stood out like a proverbial sore thumb. The blonde American seductress Joanna (Rachel Bouchard) employed a southern accent that really didn't enhance her sensuality or performance at all. She would have been much sexier and real without the awkward southern drawl and perhaps used a somewhat restrained vampy accent instead.

WORKS - the wonderfully understated comedic acting of several cast members! Essendine's
attentive, coddling staff, consisting of Haley Johnson as hilarious secretary Monica Reed, Erica
Lee Johnson as the grumpy Eastern European housekeeper Miss Erikson, and Jack Wefso as the
sarcastic butler Fred each bring their A-game and had me cracking up every time they were onstage. Adrian Egolf as Garry's estranged wife Liz has a hypnotic sparkle that you simply can't look away from. Given the comedic approach of Coward's tongue-in-cheek love song to himself, and his talent for whimsy and humor, it would have been easy to let this show trot down an overbearingly slapstick road, but the understated performances of the main cast keep it reined in perfectly.

WORKS - the hilarious over the top acting of a couple of cast members. Daphne Stillington, played by Kelly Reeves, is a fun overly-dramatic character, and it's obvious Reeves delights in delighting the audience with this role. One excellent example is Daphne's audition piece. The only way to describe it is side-splittingly, flat-out, roll-on-the-floor, pee-your-pants-and-clean-it-up-later funny. Another scene stealer is the peculiar budding playwright Roland Maule, played superbly by Christian Mast. The entire audience busted its collective gut the moment he walked onstage and uttered his first syllable, and we continued to laugh with him until the very end (I'm laughing now just typing this). Mast's use of inflection and enunciation, speech rhythms, and gestures and expressions are so well thought out, and he embodies the role so well, I have to wonder what he's like offstage. Think Mr. Bean after a few adult beverages. Yeah.

DOESN'T WORK - those actors that were neither understated nor over the top, and fell flat because of the polar extremes the others displayed. When you are a performer in such an absurdist and farcical show the likes of Mr. Coward, an actor must find his/her footing or be left in The Shadows by actors who walk the edge as well as the aforementioned players do. Garry's agents, Morris (Tim McGrath) and Hugo (Dave Blumenstock), are two such examples of actors who couldn't quite find their way out of the peripheral shadows. Their performances felt stale in comparison to the vibrancy of the others. They seemed to be going through the motions rather than owning and fully embodying their roles.

DOESN'T WORK - the length of the show. Even with ten pages removed from the script, the show
runs a bit long. But I cannot fault Miners Alley for this. Noel Coward is nothing if not clever and
detailed in his story delivery. So, while obviously enjoyable, be prepared to spend a good part of the evening and visit the extensive wet bar during the two intermissions. Just remember you will be laughing - a lot. So take into account your full bladder every time Daphne and Roland hit the stage.

WORKS - the fabulous grandeur of the set! From the crown molding to the genius illusion of the
marble floor, director and scenic designer Richard H. Pegg knows how to make use of limited space, bringing out the regality of Garry's rich Hyde Park-style flat in innovative ways. Also, the playlist Pegg chose for this show is fun and appropriate. I especially loved "Life Upon the Wicked Stage."

Thanks to the talented cast and crew of Miners Alley Playhouse and director Richard H. Pegg, the pros vastly outweigh the cons in this wonderfully entertaining show. Do take the time to see Noel Coward's masterpiece. You won't be disappointed! PRESENT LAUGHTER is making audiences pee
their pants in Golden through February 12th. For tickets or information, contact the box office at 303-935-3044 or online at www.minersalley.com.

PHOTO CREDITS: Sarah Roshan/Trulife Photography

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