BWW Reviews: HAROLD AND MAUDE at Vintage Theatre

Too often movies are turned into stage productions, losing that spark that made audiences fall in love. Thankfully that's not the case for Harold and Maude, playing at Vintage Theatre in Aurora.

The stage adaptation came to Broadway nearly a decade after the movie's 1971 release, playing only 4 regular performances during its run in 1980 before abruptly closing. Currently it's far surpassing that number through Nov. 9 at Vintage.

The plot follows Harold (Jose Zuniga), a death-obsessed young man who routinely fakes his own suicide to the chagrin of his mother (Sheri Wright), who persists on finding him a love interest. Harold meets 79-year-old Maude (Deborah Persoff) at a funeral, an event they both attend frequently for fun. Maude's carefree and ever-optimistic attitude attracts Harold, who begins to spend a lot of time with her, and he eventually falls in love.

Zuniga's Harold was executed (pun intended) with a morose yet relatable wit, not wasting a scene without adding sly smirk. He made the audience laugh even when he was hanging by a noose or about to light himself on fire. Zuniga's connection with Persoff's Maude was honest and organic, and you could see his character shift as he became more attracted to her.

Persoff did a marvelous job capturing Maude's quirkiness and joyful free spirit, nicely contrasting the needy cynicism of her last Vintage role, Big Edie in Grey Gardens. Her nonchalant response to being evicted, for example, seemed real--you believed this woman was really OK with losing all her possessions. Not only did she inspire Harold, she held the audience in her hands, too.

Harold's mother Helen was given life by Wright, who perfectly captured the typical haughty 1970s mother. You wanted to hate her, but you understood her struggle to reach Harold and being completely unfazed by his behavior. Before she actually knew who Maude was, you could see a woman finally excited by her son's prospects.

Samara Bridwell stood out with a triple play of Harold's possible suitors--erratic Sylvie, nerdy office assistant Nancy and kooky actress Sunshine. While it took me a scene to warm up to her style, I was impressed by the variety of personalities she brought to each scene.

The rest of the ensemble was solid, especially the comic timing of Sonsharae Tull, who played Marie, the overwhelmed housekeeper. Joey Wishnia's Father Finnegan had a spot-on Irish dialect and stole the second act with his speech about sex.

While Harold's multiple suicide attempts were enacted brilliantly live, I craved for the script to offer more outlets to showcase them. I couldn't get enough of seeing what they were going to do next.

The inclusion of the film's iconic Cat Stevens soundtrack during the show was a necessity, and it made the scenes aurally flow from one to the next, giving the whole event the right atmosphere.

The set was designed by Douglas Clarke, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite local scenic designers for his use of space. Much like his some of his other Vintage designs (Grey Gardens, Young Frankenstein), Harold and Maude was full of smart surprises.

Notably Maude's home, revealed behind 2 sliding walls, was a delightfully colorful contrast to Harold's bland home in the foreground. Her collection of artifacts was overwhelming and perfect. Additionally, a wall swung out to reveal a psychiatrist's office, and characters popped out from behind hinged panels, adding humor to an already comical conversation. I did wish some of the scenes utilized in front of a black curtain would have featured a bit more than a dimly colored projection, but it didn't detract.

Denver-area director Pam Clifton, a self-proclaimed fan of the movie (who apparently saw it more than 30 times when it first premiered in the '70s) makes a nice debut with her first show at Vintage. She clearly knows the piece and was able to bring the feel of the dark comedy to life.

When I saw this production, I went in without much knowledge of the film. I didn't feel like this disconnected me from any inside jokes, and I loved experiencing the characters for the first time through local actors. Spoiler alert, the end of the show differs slightly from the movie--there's no car crash, but the stage adaptation offers its own simple, tear-jerking conclusion.

Whether you're a fan of the cult classic or have never seen the movie, don't let that deter you from catching this Vintage treasure playing now through Nov. 9. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Additional performances are Thursday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 8, at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $26 night of show at the box office (1468 Dayton St. in Aurora) or $21 in advance, available online at www.vintagetheatre.com or by calling (303)856-7830. Group discounts for 6+ are available.

Deborah Persoff and Jose Zuniga

Sonsharae Tull, Jose Zuniga, Sheri Wright, Joseph Wilson

Jose Zuniga and Samara Bridwell

Deborah Persoff and Lynn Nicholson